President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially flagged off the construction of the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, estimated to cost about N15 trillion, and called it his “bragging” right.
“It’s my bragging day. We will do this road. We are determined to do it,” Tinubu said, at the Victoria Island area of Lagos State, where the event took place.
The project has earned criticisms from major opposition leaders like the Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi.
Tinubu who cut the tape at 6:03pm in Lagos was flanked by Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and about eight governors, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Kwara State’s Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Others included: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; his Ogun counterpart Dapo Abiodun, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, designed to stretch 700 kilometres and pass through nine states, was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Limited on an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement.
The bulk of the risk reportedly falls on the contractor, while the Federal Government provides counterpart funding.
The Federal Government commenced the construction in March 2024, beginning with the first phase of the project, which stretches 47.47 kilometres from Lagos.
“It’s my bragging day,” he said of the project expected to be completed in eight years. “We said we would do this road. We will do this road. We are determined to do it.”
Claims of a lack of transparency in the awarding of the project, the cost as well as the demolition of structures have continued to make headlines.
The Federal Government later reverted to the gazetted route within some kilometres of the highway project to avoid damaging some submarine cables.
The President went on to highlight 10 benefits of the superhighway project that is spanning nine states.
Tinubu called the project a beacon of hope to Nigerians.
According to him, it would connect communities, and bring jobs to people.
“We have a road that will outlive all of us here. That is how to build the future. The project is more than a mere road. It is a symbol of hope, unity, and prosperity. It will connect communities, bring prosperity to people, and create opportunities for millions of our people. For our nation to excel, we just have to be bold and courageous in our endeavours,” he said.
“We have a road that will outlive all of us here. That is how to build the future. This project is more than a mere road. It is a symbol of hope, unity, and prosperity.”
Tinubu also commended Umahi for his efforts thus far in the project, saying when completed, it would be of immense benefit to the country’s tourism space.
