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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of Works, Engineer Nweze Dave Umahi, to begin designing the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, a spur to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The 1,000-kilometer project awaits Federal Executive Council approval and will commence construction from the Sokoto end.
“I’m happy that Mr President has also directed me to start the immediate design of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which is 1,000 kilometres long,” the Minister stated. “We’ve started the design, and I’m confident that as soon as the FEC approves it, we will begin construction at the Sokoto end, which will be the starting point.”
During an inspection visit to the km 47 axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project at Eleko, Lagos State, the Minister, accompanied by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Engineer (Mrs) O. I. Kesha, and other technical team members, highlighted the need to realign the coastal highway around the Lekki Deep Sea Port at km 47. This realignment will involve constructing a flyover bridge across the Dangote/Hitech concrete pavement to align with the economic values of the coastal highway.
“We have chosen another alignment that will run parallel to the road leading to the Lekki Deep Seaport at kilometre 47,” the Minister explained. “This marks the end of section one of phase one. We are very happy with this decision. We will use a flyover to cross the Dangote HiTech Road, which connects the Lekki Deep Sea Port to Epe, and then join the road constructed by the state government that leads from the Lekki Deep Sea Port to Lagos.”
The Renewed Hope administration aims to connect the six geopolitical zones of the country with a robust road network, fostering a more secure, safer, and sustainable transportation ecosystem.
Regarding the media reports on the impact of the demolition along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway section 1, phase 1, particularly concerning the landmark investment, the Minister clarified that the landmark property remains intact and that the owner does not hold title to the 250-meter shoreline, which is the right of way belonging to the Federal Government.
“We are considering the feelings of the people and the economic values by ensuring that, as much as possible, we follow the coast and also follow the right of way that legally belongs to the Federal Government,” the Minister’s Special Assistant, Uchenna Orji, stated in a press release. “This is not to say that, in the overall interest of the public, land cannot be acquired in accordance with our laws.”
