FG approves N1.6trn section 2 Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway
Kunle Sanni
The Federal Government has approved the construction of section two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway, which is estimated to cost about N1.6 trillion for the project.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said this Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after the conclusion of a two-day FEC meeting which was held at the council chambers.
Umahi, said the council approved the ban of dredging activities 10km around all federal government bridges.
He said dredging activities too close to the bridges expose the foundation piles of the structures.
While announcing the approval of section two of phase one of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Umahi defended the project’s procurement route, saying it followed due process.
“Let me just throw a little light on this project against what anybody might be saying. First and foremost is that the ESIA was obtained by Ministry of Works from the Ministry of Environment on December 23, 2023 and second approval came in March 28 and further renewed in April 24 this year.
“So ESIA is a continuous process. The final certificate is given when the job is totally done or about to be concluded so that all issues are sorted out and we’ve been doing a lot of engagement, I participated in two.
“We did restrictive bidding for this project and that is what FEC approved first before the procurement started. People say it was not listed in the 2024 budgets. Yesterday, I quoted the budget memo and so everything about coastal road followed due process,” he explained.
FEC also approved section two of phase one of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, the construction of Iseyi-Okeho-Igana road in Oyo State, and Kotakafe-Abaji concrete road stretching 60km.
It okayed the argumentation of contract for the rescoping and completion of outstanding works on the Nasarawa-Loko road in Nasarawa state.
Umahi announced that the BUA company received an approval to construct 60km of the Lokoja-Benin road under the tax-credit scheme.
Four intervention projects—Benin-Agbor, Benin bypass, Tessi in Kwara and Malando in Kebbi State—also got the FG’s nod.
Others are the Kano northern bypass road, running 74km with six bridges and four flyovers, the construction of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja road; a part of this coastal road.
