FG Commences Design Of 1000km Sokoto- Badagry Highway …….Plans National Road Network Programme That Links The 6 Geo-Political Zones For Enhanced Transportation Ecosystem.

"The coastal  highway  project  will connect  the entire country  through  the spurs going  to the North by  both North East and  North West as well as  North. 

......... Commends Hitech Construction Nigeria Limited, for the quality  and speed of the job and hoped that with their capacity and track records, and the manifest political will of Mr. President, the 700 km project would be completed within the  8 years of the Renewed Hope administration of  Mr. President.

 

 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced plans to connect the 6 geopolitical zones of the country with an enduring network of roads that will in turn, foster a more secure, safer and sustainable transportation  ecosystem. 

Making this disclosure is Nigeria’s Minister of Works; Engr. David Umahi describing it as a part of the plans of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Umahi stated this during his site inspection visit to the kilometre 47 axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project at Eleko, Lagos State where the contractor has commenced demolition of structures around kilometres 3-4 of the highway.

The Minister, who was on site to witness the exercise, disclosed that he had received directives from Mr. President to begin the immediate design of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which is a spur to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

"I am happy that Mr. President has also directed me to start the immediate design of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway and, that one is 1,000 kilometers. We have started the design, and I am very sure that as soon as FEC approves it, we will be starting at Sokoto side, which is going to be the zero point.” He said. 

He noted the need to realign the coastal highway around the axis of the Lekki Deep Sea Port at the point of km 47 by constructing a flyover bridge across the Dangote/Hitech concrete pavement, stressing that this will become necessary so as to align with the economic values  of the coastal highway.

"We have chosen another alignment that is going to be parallel to the road that is going to the Lekki Deep Sea port at kilometer 47. That is the end of section one of phase one. We are very happy with that decision. We use a flyover to fly over the Dangote HiTech road that is coming from Lekki Deep Sea port going to Epe and joining the road that is going from Lekki Deep Sea to Lagos being done by the State Government."

The Minister commended Hitech Construction Nigeria Limited, for the quality  and speed of the job and hoped that with their capacity and track records, and the manifest political will of Mr. President, the 700 km project would be completed within the  8 years of the Renewed Hope administration of  Mr. President.  

He further noted  that the coastal  highway  project  will connect  the entire country  through  the spurs going  to the North by  both North East and  North West as well as  North Central, saying; "We are very, very excited with the quality of work they are doing, with the speed of work. It gives us the confidence that this Coastal road will be constructed within the two times tenure of Mr. President."

"We also have another spur that is going to go from Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja going to Cameroon. That spur is about 361 kilometers going through Otukpo to Benue, Nasarawa, and ends up at Apo in Abuja. We are also going to be presenting it to Mr. President. When this is done, then the coastal road, like we promised, is going to circle the entire country." He said.

In his reaction to reports in some media platforms as it relates to the ongoing demolition exercise of structures along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (Section 1, Phase 1), the Minister made it clear that the Landmark properties were intact and not affected by the exercise. He however stressed that the owner of the investment has no title to the 250 meters shoreline, which is the ”Right-of-Way, belonging to the Federal Government.

"We are looking at the feelings of the people, and we are looking at economic values by making sure that, as much as possible, we follow the coast and also follow the right of way that is legally within the right of way of the Federal Government. This is not to say that for the interest of the nation and in line with our laws that lands cannot be acquired in the overall interest of the public."

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works and made available to journalists.