The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Expressway will boost regional integration and transform national connectivity.
Umahi said this while meeting with traditional rulers in Ilaje Local Government Area late Wednesday during the inspection of the Ondo Section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Umahi minister noted that other road projects being executed by the federal government were inherited from the previous administrations.
He noted that many roads inaugurated by the previous administrations were in deplorable conditions, stating that President Bola Tinubu was determined to reclaim and rebuild Nigeria’s infrastructure.
The minister said: “Today, roads are being built to last. In the past, many roads deteriorated within five years. I was deeply saddened when I inspected the road beyond the Sagamu road interchange.
“The first section, measuring 12 kilometres on each carriageway, has been completed. The next 48-kilometre section towards Ore is almost finished, and work is progressing on subsequent sections.
“Unfortunately, many roads commissioned by previous administrations have already deteriorated badly.
“That is why President Bola Tinubu is determined to reclaim and rebuild Nigeria’s infrastructure.
“To our traditional rulers, our brothers and sisters from this region, and indeed all Nigerians, we have embarked on this journey with President Bola Tinubu, and we remain committed to seeing it through.
“I strongly believe that if the kind of infrastructure development President Tinubu is undertaking today had been sustained over the past 30 years, Nigeria would not be where it is today.”
Umahi further stated that Tinubu had directed the ministry to apply prudent engineering in delivering the coastal highway.
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Umahi added: “Constructing bridges of that length across each crossing would make the project prohibitively expensive.
“As a result, we carried out more extensive soil investigations and redesigned the project. That is what we are implementing today. These are the realities and dynamics of engineering.”
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, commended the minister for his energetic and pragmatic approach to infrastructural development in the country.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, expressed optimism that the coastal road would be the solution to the road problem in the area.
The monarch said: “As much as we appreciate the ongoing project, we want to call the attention of Mr President to the sea incursion in Ayetoro community.
“We are afraid that the road we are doing today would not be eroded by flood in the nearest future.”
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