President Bola Tinubu yesterday unveiled the Phase 1 of the ongoing 750 kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying it was a signature project geared to unlock holistic road infrastructure along coastline states.
The president who warned developers against building on setbacks informed developers in the state of the federal government’s decision to enforce setbacks along the coastlines while buttressing that developers without approvals would not be compensated.
Tinubu said development of housing without approvals would not be compensated henceforth, and would be rigidly enforced in every way possible.
The president stated these while commissioning the completed 30km section of (phase one section one) of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project where he affirmed that the project would foster regional integration, fasten social cohesion and stimulate inclusionary growth and development that would reference Nigeria as the flagship of excellence in Africa.
According to him, expectations are high as Nigerians are going through difficult times, assuring that inflation and exchange rate are stepping down as they are working to reduce costs for manufacturers in the country.
He said, ‘’We are taming inflation, stabilizing exchange rate and eliminating corruption in fuel subsidy at the barest minimum. We are reducing the cost of manufacturing drugs as we are manufacturing locally.”
Underscoring the pivotal role of the coastal highway project, the president reassured that the Lagos-Calabar highway would improve land appreciation along the corridors, reduce travel time, spur domestic trade and unlock potential to attract foreign direct investments.
He said the project is a testament of his administration’s infrastructure ambition to unlock the footprints of history as the first concrete reinforcement roads to protect sensitive ecological zones while exploring regional geographies in the country.
He further said the idea of coastal highway states was conceived over 27 years ago to underscore the need for road infrastructure while assuring that the project is a signature project geared to unlock the transformative potential of coastline states in the country.
President Tinubu further stressed the pivotal role of concrete road pavements to bolster road infrastructure even as he officially flagged off the rehabilitation of Ibadan, Oyo, Ife, Kwara, Nembe Brass and roads in Zaria.
Earlier, the minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi listed several legacy projects flagged off by the president whom he said is the initiator, actualiser and visionary dreamer of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.
Umahi cited the completion of East-West roads, Dual Carriageways, rehabilitation of Carter, Independent, EKO and existing bridges, Dangote Tax credit roads, Lekki-Epe corridor roads, Sagamu expressway, Lagos-Ibadan road, Ibadan-Ife road, Ilesha-Akure-Benin roads which he said had passed through several stages of procurements and reinforced concrete design.
He also expressed concern over the Nembe brass road, boddo Boni, Bayelsa, Enugu-Onitsha which he said are part of several roads yet to be done.
The minister lauded the federal government’s efforts and initiative to rehabilitate bridges and several road projects across the country while noting that the roads are nearing completion.
