COASTAL HIGHWAY: TINUBU TO FLAG-OFF SECTIONS THREE AND FOUR IN CROSS RIVER TO AKWA IBOM As part of the commitment of the Tinubu Administration to sustain its on-going infrastructural development drive   in line with its Renewed Hope Agenda. The Federal Government has announced plans to commence the flag-off of the next phase of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal highway from Cross River to Akwa Ibom.  The Minister of Works Senator (Engr) David Umahi disclosed this at the stakeholder’s engagement meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on 29, June 2024. According to the Minister of Works, “we are here to introduce sections three and four of the famous Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway. "We started and awarded section one which started in Lagos and terminated at deep port in Lagos and is at 474 km "There is section two that is starting at Lekki Deep Sea Port and taking it to the famous Dangote Refinery"  The Honourable Minister added that the President has graciously directed that sections three and four must start at Cross River and stop at Akwa Ibom. Senator Umahi recalled that the Senate President once addressed the people of Akwa Ibom state, and he assured them that "sections three and four will start on this part of the coastal highway and this is the fulfilment of that assurance, and we are happy doing this”. He added. Speaking further, the Minister explained "that section three has 27km on Akwa Ibom land 38km on Cross River State. While section four is entirely on Akwa Ibom that is 80km. When you add 27km and 80km, you have 107km, so you are benefiting through maximizing this coastal highway. "When we complete the procurement process and award these sections three and four, work will start in many sub- sections of this sections all at the same time. "Tinubu is a man who matches his words with actions. So, we are happy with the level of commendations and support we receive from Nigerians for the so many benefits of the coastal highway Speaking at the event, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio expressed his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for listening to his plea to start sections three and four of the coastal highways in Cross River State to Akwa Ibom. He called on the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to give maximum support to the federal government and buy into the coastal highway project. The former governor also called on the Minister of works to engage the services of engineers from the state on the project. Also speaking at the event, the Akwa Ibom state governor assured the stakeholders that the state will cooperate with the federal government to ensure the completion of the project.   ...

WORKS MINISTER LAMENTS ON THE ATTITUDE OF EXPATRIATE CONTRACTORS ON ROAD PROJECTS. PLEDGE TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL CONTRACTORS  The Federal government has announced plans to terminate the contracts of contractors carrying out the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Lokoja-Benin road for delaying the contracts and not showing commitment to the plight of the people.  The Minister of Works, Senator (Engr) David Umahi, disclosed this at the stakeholder’s engagement meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on 29 June,2024 According to the Minister, while lamenting over the attitude of some unpatriotic expatriate contractors in the country warned that any contractor who continues to behave in that way will have his contract terminated. While inspecting projects sites along Calabar -Itu road on his way to Cross River State from Uyo, Senator Umahi was physically worried about the agony Nigerians go through over the poor condition of the road. He called on Julius Berger to return to the project site immediately to avoid sanctions from the ministry. "We are going to do everything to support local contractors, we are going to encourage them, build them so that they can compete with the expatriate contractors, but more pains no more gains" he said. The Minister thanked President Tinubu for his desire to alleviate the suffering of our people by carrying out massive infrastructural rehabilitation in the country.   ...

HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS, UMAHI COMMENCES NATIONWIDE STAKEHOLDERS' ENGAGEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RENEWED HOPE LEGACY ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WILL STIMULATE NATIONAL PROSPERITY Following  the approval  of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the commencement  of the national road infrastructure network  that will traverse the various trade and agricultural  corridors of Nigeria and in keeping  with the Renewed Hope strategic economic  recovery plans, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen Engr Nweze David Umahi CON  has commenced nationwide stakeholders engagement for the construction of  sections of the three (3) Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure projects. The Honourable Minister will on Saturday, 29th, and Sunday 30th June 2024 hold this session of the stakeholders' engagement in Akwa Ibom and Cross-River States, respectively. In Akwa Ibom, he will present and discuss the proposed alignment for the construction of Sections 3B and 4 of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project passing through the State and in Cross River State he will present and discuss section 3A of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and 92 km segment of the Calabar-Sout East- North Central- Apo Abuja Superhighway passing through the State.  Stakeholders expected in the event include: Governors of concerned States, Senate and Federal House of Representatives Committees on Works, Honourable Ministers of line Ministries, Royal fathers and technocrats, Nigerian Communications Commission and major Telecommunication Service Providers, other relevant stakeholders and the Media.  The Senate President Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Godswill Akpabio CON is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour in the event The three Renewed Hope  Legacy Road Infrastructure projects when completed  shall have historic national  interconnectivity that will crisscross the major transportation  routes of  Northern  and Southern States of Nigeria and that is the Sokoto - Badagry Superhighway (SBS): a 1,000-kilometer highway connecting Sokoto in Northern Nigeria to Badagry in Western Nigeria, passing  through  7 States and connecting to the Lagos-Calabar coastal (LCCH) highway at Ahmadu Bello way Lagos; Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: a 700-kilometer coastal highway connecting from Lagos State to Cross River State through  8 States; and  the Calabar- South East- North Central- Apo Abuja  477-kilometer Superhighway connecting   from Calabar to Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa States and ending at Apo in Abuja This stakeholders' meeting will afford opportunities to communities along the routes and trade corridors to appreciate  the potentials of the project to the enhancement of industrialization, tourism, agricultural  commercialization and mechanization, trade and investment, and economic  competitiveness not only among the people of the area, but also the various  regions of Nigeria, and thus stimulate  national  prosperity.   ...