Umahi urges weekly media coverage of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Construction Work
By: Edem Archibong, Calabar.
For the first time in the history of Nigeria, the Federal Government has given a directive to all the Television Stations/ Print Media houses to make sure they provide weekly coverage for the ongoing construction works for the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway Project.
This directive was recently issued in Lagos by the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi during an inspection tour of the Highway and bridges constructed in Lagos axis of the Coastal Highway Project as reported by POLITICS NIGERIA .
Mr. Umahi explained that not less than two television Stations a week will be taken to the site of the project to showcase the particular section of the coastal highway under construction.
The Hon. Minister who was the former Governnor of Abia State gave the reason for such action stemming from the fact that “the project have attracted public scrutiny and allegations of irregularities which makes it necessary for Nigerians to see first-hand, the scope of work and the challenges” involve in the construction works.
He also expressed feelings that the “people need to know what is happening here. It takes courage for the contractor, the Ministry and Mr. President who approved this project with the hope that when the road is completed, Nigerians may not understand it and that’s why we decided to showcase it to the public view.”
On the extent of the work, the Minister recounts that “parts of the road required deep excavation of poor materials- between five and 20 meters – before being refilled with stone lumps and Sand to guarantee durability ” of the project. And for this reason, Mr. Umahi “praised Hitech Construction Company who is the Contractor handling the project for what he described as its capacity, commitment, and quality of work” done.
Similarly, the Minister directed the project managers and engineer to keep details records of every construction stage, including ground excavation, refilling and pavement levels. These documents, he said, must be made available to oversight agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC and the National Assembly by the end of September,2025.
With this level of satisfaction expressed by the Minister, there is assurance that he would continue to give approval for payments promptly for every verified work done on site.
Interestingly, the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to be a 700-Kilometer project which was creatively awarded to Hitch Construction Company despite all forms of criticism as non viable and non realistic. But today, four facets project of Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing (EPC+F) arrangements commenced work in March, 2024 and it is expected that the project to end during President Bola Ahemd Tinubu’s second tenure .
End.
