The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a stern warning to three foreign companies handling the East-West Road project, threatening to terminate their contracts this week if they fail to return to the site and demonstrate a clear commitment to completing their sections within the stipulated timeframe.
This ultimatum follows a period of dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work despite adequate mobilization of funds.
Umahi expressed his disappointment during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday. The meeting focused on the alignment of Sections 3B and 4 of the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The Federal Government plans to commence the construction of a 107-kilometer segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which will traverse Akwa Ibom State, in August. This coastal highway is designed to link Lagos with Cross River State, passing through the shoreline states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ogun, and Ondo.
Umahi detailed that Sections 3B and 4, totaling 107 kilometers, fall within Akwa Ibom State boundaries, making it the fourth longest portion of the entire coastal highway within a single state. The benefiting communities within Akwa Ibom State include 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.
Discussing progress on the project, Umahi stated, “We have awarded the contract and started Section 1, which begins from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos and terminates at Deep Sea Port, spanning 47.47 kilometers on six lanes with a train track in the middle. Section 2 starts from the Lekki Deep Sea Port and covers about 30 kilometers, ending at the border between Lagos and Ogun, totaling 55.77 kilometers.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu has directed that Sections 3 and 4 must commence from Cross River and Akwa Ibom. “Akwa Ibom is benefiting 107 kilometers, the fourth in length among the states along the Coastal Highway. We have completed about 3 kilometers on Section 1 and are working on both Sections 1 and 2. As soon as we finish procurement on Sections 3 and 4, work will start in multiple sub-sections simultaneously,” Umahi said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the simultaneous commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from both ends and sections. He called for support from all stakeholders in Akwa Ibom to ensure the project’s success and advocated for the completion of ongoing Federal Government projects in the state, including the Calabar-Itu highway, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, and the East-West roads in Eket and Ikot Abasi.
Governor Umo Eno also thanked Tinubu and Akpabio for directing federal attention to Akwa Ibom and pledged full cooperation to ensure the realization of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. “Let me assure you that we will cooperate with you at any time and in whichever way you want so that we can actualize the vision of Mr. President on this coastal road,” he affirmed.
