President Bola Tinubu has sternly warned property developers and landowners against building on federal government right of way even as he stressed that the era of indiscriminate development and encroachment on public infrastructure was over.
The president also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to local content, technology transfer, and the empowerment of Nigerians as he commissioned the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and major road projects across the country.
Speaking at the commissioning of the completed 30km section of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Lagos on Saturday, Tinubu directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and other ministers overseeing projects across the country to ensure full compliance with the laws on local content, training of Nigerians and technology transfer.
The President also stated that his administration will no longer be held accountable for paying compensation to buildings and development that violate the federal-right-of-way while saying that owners of illegal buildings will bear the brunt.
“Let me warn all the developers that the Federal Government will enforce setbacks. If not for anything, but for the interest of the nation.”
He also stressed that developers who fail to get building approvals will not be compensated, adding that the federal government has gazetted and published the setback, and will enforce it in any way possible.
The President acknowledged Engineer Ronald Chagoury’s role in halting the advance of the Atlantic Ocean and salvaging Victoria Island and Ikoyi, calling for more support for the future in “doing the impossible” in building Nigeria’s infrastructure.
“I said that we would do it, and we did. We averted a disaster greater than a tsunami in Victoria Island and Ikoyi,” he added.
He appealed to Nigerians to be more patient with the government. “I want to appeal to all Nigerians that hope is here. Our economy is recovering,” he said, highlighting the stability of the foreign exchange and the reduction in food prices.
Tinubu said the commissioned section is the Phase I: Section I from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village Area in the Lekki Peninsula, in a section of the 700km iconic project spanning the coastal areas of Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States.
He commended the Minister of Works, Umahi; the Minister of State Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Goronyo; the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, and all staff of the Ministry that made the commissioning possible and their commitment to the project.
The President also congratulated Messrs. Hitech Construction Company Limited for taking the job and “showing that Nigerian firms can perform to world standards and achieve excellence in infrastructure development.
“It is most pleasing to note that the highway was constructed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement instead of Flexible Pavement, thereby assuring durability.”
President Tinubu also commissioned the rehabilitation of Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road Section II (Ugep-Katsina-Ala) in Benue/Cross River States, dualisation of East-West Road Section II (Sub Section I) Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt – Ahoada in Rivers State; rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep (Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section in Cross River State; upgrading of 15km Section of the East-West Road Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction)-Onne Port Junction in Rivers State, all in the South-South.
He also commissioned the rehabilitated Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Section III, Enugu-Lokpanta, in the South East Zone; a new bridge at Akpoha in Ebonyi State to replace the near-collapsed bridge; reconstruction of the collapsed Enugu Bridge at New Artisan Market Enugu-Port Harcourt Road in Enugu State.
Other commissioned projects in the South-West zone include rehabilitation, construction and expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Dual Carriageway Section II in Oyo State; rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Shagamu Road in Lagos State; emergency comprehensive repair of the Eko Bridge (4.1km) in Lagos State from Alaka, Surulere-Apongbon, including all Ramps; construction of Deep-Sea Port Access Road in Lagos State through Epe to Shagamu – Benin Expressway in Lagos and Ogun States.
In the North-Central Zone, Tinubu commissioned the construction of the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State and the Ilobu-Enrile road in Kwara and Osun States.
In the North-East Zone, the President commissioned the Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State.
In the North-West Zone, he commissioned the reconstructed Yakasai Badume-Damargu-Marken Zalli Roads in Kano State and the reconstruction of Kano-Kwanar Danja Hadeja Section II: Kano-Tsalle in Kano and Jigawa States.
President Tinubu also flagged off the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Akure-Benin Road in Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Edo States; construction of Nembe-Brass Road; construction of a section of Enugu-Onitsha Carriageway (total length of 107km); and rehabilitation of Zaria-Hunkuyi-Kufur-Gidan Mutum Daya Road in Kaduna/Kano States.
Also, the President flagged off the dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri Road, linking Kano-Jigawa-Bauchi-Yobe and Borno States (Section I: Kano-Wudil-Shuarin), which has a total length of 105km; the construction of Kano Northern Bypass Road in Kano State; and the construction of Maiduguri Bypass Road.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akapbio assured the President of more support from the National Assembly to reposition the country’s economy.
For his part, Minister of Works, Engr Umahi disclosed that the federal government spent N18 billion to compensate all those affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Umahi said the President directed that all projects must consider the well-being of Nigerians and issues of sustainability.
Governors of Lagos, Delta, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Borno, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, and Imo states attended the event.
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