Umahi Assures Of Completion Of 7th Axial Road Project In April

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Saturday inspected section two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the 7th Axial Road Project connecting the evacuation corridors of Lekki-Deep sea ports, Dangote Refinery and 17 Southern States along the axis.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far on the 7th Axial Road Project connecting the evacuation corridors of Lekki-Deep sea ports, Dangote Refinery and Sagamu-Ore road while targeting April for commissioning.

Umahi stated that the 7th Axial Road, which includes 50 kilometers of dual carriageway and an additional five kilometers of bridges, will facilitate the movement of goods from the Lekki Deep Seaport, including products from the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer plant.

He said the corridor will connect Epe to the Sagamu–Ore Expressway, creating a vital logistics link to 17 southern states and the wider northern region.

The Minister affirmed that The 7th Axial Road is an evacuation corridor that will connect the Lekki Deep Sea Port and serve as an evacuation corridor for goods along the Deep Sea Port. And it takes us straight to Epe, and it takes us straight to the Sagamu-Ore Road, and to the 17 southern states and the other northern states within that axis.

The Minister noted that the 7th Axial Road project was initially approved during the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, with the intention of securing funding from the China Exim Bank.

‎Umahi further disclosed that the 7th Axial Road project is one of two strategic road proposals that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his last state visit to China, where he sought funding support from the China Exim Bank. The other proposal was the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road.

The minister while addressing Journalists said the coastal route is already serving its purpose, fulfilling a vision conceived over two decades ago and now being realized under the present administration.

‎According to the minister, about 95 percent settlement has been achieved on critical sections of the 47.47-kilometre Section Two project, excluding bridges.

He commended construction firm HITECH for effectively addressing major engineering challenges, including deep pits and refuse dumps encountered along the corridor.

‎Senator Umahi disclosed plans to fully complete and commission Section One by the end of April, alongside commissioning about 50 percent of Section Two.

He explained that phased commissioning of completed sections is necessary to allow public use rather than waiting for the entire project to be finished.

The minister further announced that the highway will be tolled upon completion, in line with the EPC plus F project funding arrangement, with infrastructure for tolling to be put in place.

He assured Nigerians that despite construction challenges and realignments, there will be no further budget increase, as contractors are absorbing some risks as part of national development efforts.