From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
As the controversy over the construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, heightens, Federal Ministry of Works, yesterday, invited governors of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River states, to deliberate on the way forward.
Others invited are the Senate and Federal House of Representatives Committees on Works, Honourable Ministers of line ministries, royal fathers and technocrats.
Also invited are Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and major telecommunication service providers and other relevant stakeholders including the media.
In a statement, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofarmata said that the meeting will deliberate on the alignment for the construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, 38km section 3A in Cross River State, 27km section 3B and 80km section 4 in Akwa Ibom State as well as the design of the Cross River 92km segment of Calabar-South East-North Central-Apo (Abuja) Superhighway by African Trans Sahara highway.
Recall that the construction had generated a lot of controversies from the political class, opposition parties, host communities and human rights activists.
The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar opposed it on the grounds that the contract was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited because of the personal relationship between the President of Nigeria and the Chairman of Hitech, Chagoury, and that the demolition was done in a hurry and so constitutes a threat to foreign investment.
But the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi said that the timing of the project was wrong, coming at a time the citizens are facing extreme hard times.
The host community is crying because the government will demolish their investment without adequate compensation.
According to the programme, the meeting is slated as follow: