- During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi emphasized that the Federal Government remains committed to the project
Minister of Works David Umahi has assured that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project will proceed as planned despite a pending court case challenging its implementation.
The 700-kilometer highway, extending from Victoria Island in Lagos to Calabar in Cross River State, will traverse Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi emphasized that the Federal Government remains committed to the project, asserting that all legal and procedural requirements have been met. He dismissed claims that the project lacked proper authorization, stating, “We are paying compensation and following the legally permitted corridor.”
Umahi expressed uncertainty about the basis of the court case, noting, “We don’t know what they are taking to court.” He also addressed procurement concerns, explaining that the project was approved under the Restrictive Procurement Act by the Federal Executive Council, with proper oversight from procurement experts.
Defending the project’s cost and scale, Umahi criticized comparisons with international projects, asserting that the cost per kilometer was justified. He stated, “I’ve had to run even the cost of the project at 4 billion per kilometer. Comparisons with projects in Egypt are unfounded.”