….NASS Assures Nigerians of Value for Money

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, along with Members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders in the Nigeria project, paid a working visit to Sections 3A and 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Company is handling the 71.4-kilometre segment, part of the 750-kilometre highway. The two projects were flagged off in April, 2025.

Engr. Umahi praised the contractor for maintaining quality standards, utilising advanced equipment, and employing skilled workers. He also commended them for completing and commissioning Section I, Phase I (Ahmadu Bello Way-Eleko Village) in Lagos State, in June 2025, ahead of schedule, with the ceremony presided over by the President, His Excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR. He urged them to replicate this performance on Sections 3A and 3B, directing that construction should proceed both during the day and at night.

The Minister stated, “The God that brought His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to undertake this courageous project is still on the Throne and will sustain him to complete it, setting the country on the path of greatness.” He highlighted that features such as relief stations, solar lighting, and CCTV cameras will be included along the highway, with emergency response times not exceeding 10 minutes.

He encouraged the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, and indeed all Nigerians, to support Mr. President in realising his 27-year-old dream of building a Coastal Highway, similar to those in other countries with coastlines. “He is the actualiser of dreams, including that of former President Shehu Shagari of blessed memory, who about 47 years ago envisioned constructing the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and the colonial-era 465-kilometre Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Kogi-Abuja, the Trans-Saharan Highway, which connects with the fourth Legacy Project at Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe. What more can we expect from a visionary leader?”

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Dany Aboud, expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity and assured the Minister that they would work day and night, deploying more personnel and resources. He pledged that construction on both segments would be completed within the 36-month contract period.

On behalf of the Members and leadership of the National Assembly, Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Sen. Mpigi Barinada, commended the quality of the work. He urged Nigerians to appreciate the significant earthwork involved, especially given the swampy terrain, which justifies the project’s huge capital outlay. He assured the public that they will get value for their money and reaffirmed the partnership between the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Works to realise the President’s vision.

The newly deployed Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, who previously served as Director of Procurement at the Ministry, emphasised, “the quality of work is very high, quite high. We are very confident that, with the contractor’s commitment and the Minister’s leadership, this project can be completed on time, making Nigerians proud.”

Earlier, the Acting Director, Highways (Bridge and Design), Engr. Musa Sa’idu, and the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Vincent Okoruwa, briefed the Minister on progress. They confirmed that the contractor is adhering to the approved design and that there are no obstacles to timely completion. Engr. Sa’idu noted the use of grade 40 concrete with Y20 by Y16 reinforcement at 500-metre intervals, adding, “When finished, it will outlive all of us.”

Additionally, leaders from the PDP, ADC, and Action Alliance, set aside party differences to commend the contractor, the Ministry, and the President for spearheading this infrastructure revival. They opined that once something good is happening, it should be pointed out and appreciated by all well-meaning citizens.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South South Zone, Ms. Gift Johnbull, lauded the project, emphasising that “it is about the people, which is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is hinged upon.” She highlighted that completed projects will enable farmers like Mrs. Odeh or Mr. Effiong to transport their yam, palm oil, garri, and other commodities to markets in Lagos, thereby creating more wealth.  She describes the project as a generational game changer.

On his way to Calabar from Uyo, the Minister also inspected ongoing work on the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road project, which includes a spur to Ididep Itam and Ikot Ekpene. He expressed concern over the slow progress by one of the contractors, Messrs Raycon and Company (Nigeria) Limited, on a 9.7-kilometre section. The contractor’s claim of not receiving mobilisation funds was rejected, with the Minister reminding him that the Ministry’s policy requires contractors to report to the site and achieve a reasonable level of work certified before mobilisation funds are released.

Based on this, the Minister announced the contract’s termination and directed the Federal Controller of Works in Akwa Ibom to issue a stop-work order. He also instructed a detailed assessment of the work completed to facilitate payment. Furthermore, he ordered Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Company to take over the project on an emergency procurement basis, assuring road users that it would be completed within two months.

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