The Federal Government has asserted that the portion of The Lagos -Calabar Highway that will pass through Akwa Ibom State territory will be flagged off by August this year, David Umahi, The Minister of Works stated this at the stakeholders meeting for the alignment of Sections 3B and 4 in Uyo over the weekend.
The Minister disclosed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700km road that will link Lagos with Cross River State, through the shoreline states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ogun and Ondo.
He disclosed that out of the 700km, the total length of the road, 27Km of the Section 3b and 80Km of Section 4, totaling 107Km, fall within Akwa Ibom State territory and is the 4th longest portion of the project within a single state.
READ ALSO: Standard Chartered Bank to Splash $3bn on NNLG, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road
Umahi said the following communities within Akwa Ibom state will benefit from the road project; Esuk Inwang, Ndon Ebom, Ikot Akpabio, Ikot Inyang, Nsia Oron, Oyoku Asang, Urua Okok, Ekpene Edi, Ntete, Esuk Ntete, Akepeti Creek, Qua Ibong, Atabrikang Aquaha, Atabrikang Ekeme, Iko, Amadaka and Okoro Inyong.
On the effort so far made on the gigantic project The Minister said.
“We have awarded the contract and started Section 1 which starts from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos and terminates at Deep Sea Port at 47.47km on six lanes with a train track at the middle.
“We started Section 2 from the Lekki Deep Sea Port where you have the famous Dangote Refnery, Fertlizer, the Deep Sea Port of Lagos State Government and other blue ship industries all within that location, about 30km in length that covers that Deep Sea.
“We have started the second section there, ending at the border between Lagos and Ogun, a total of 55.77km, for Section 2. And Mr President directed that Sections 3 an 4 must start at Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
“On the whole, Akwa Ibom is benefiting 107km, about the 4th in length in the comity of states along the Coastal Highway.
We have done about 3km fully completed on Section 1 and working in both Sections on 1 and 2. As soon as we finish procurement on Sections 3 and 4, work will start in many sub-sessions all at same time.”
READ ALSO: First Year Anniversary: President Tinubu Inaugurates Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway and other Projects
The Minister admonished some contractors handling federal road Projects in the state for lack of commitment and threatened to terminate their contracts if they don’t show enough commitment.
The President of Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio in his address to the stakeholders appreciated President Bola Tinubu for granting approval for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to commence simultaneously from both ends and sections, he considered a federal presence in the state an opportunity, and called for the support of stakeholders in the state towards the success of the project.
” The Stakeholders’ Engagement today is principally to let people of the state know, through the Minister that, for you to make an omelette, you must break the egg. Mine was just to come and join in appealing to our people that there is need to give total cooperation to the construction companies that will handle this section of the coastal road”. Akpabio said while making case for completion of ongoing federal government projects in Akwa Ibom, including the Calabar-Itu highway, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road, the East West roads in Eket and Ikot Abasi.
On behalf of government and people, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for bringing a federal presence to the state, he pledged maximum cooperation to ensure the actualization of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Eno promised that his government will liaise with groups, communities and stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation of the Akwa Ibom portion of the coastal highway.
“Let me assure you that we will cooperate with you at anytime and in whichever way you want so that we can actualize the vision of Mr. President on this costal road.
“Whatever you think we need to do to show support or talk to our young people, whether it is security, just call our attention and we will be willing to give that support. It is a commitment that I make consciously, and as you begin, we will work with you.”
The governor said. He used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government, through the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, to revisit the 13 km road project, with bridge to connect Mbo to Hope King Cemetery in Calabar, the contract having been awarded by the last Federal administration to CCECC but has been abandoned.
Governor Umo Eno disclosed that on the Calabar-Itu highway, government had completed the evaluation of properties on the project’s right of way, and released funds for payment of compensation to enable the federal government complete the project.
