FG announces dates for flag off of Calabar, Akwa Ibom end of coastal highway

….Umahi says highway game changer for inclusive economic growth

By Chris Ochayi

The Federal Government has disclosed that the Calabar end of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project will be flagged off on Monday, April 14, 2025.

It also announced that the Akwa Ibom State spur of the same road projects has been scheduled for flag off on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, made this known at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on the ongoing construction of phase I, Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway held on Sunday at Eko Hotel, Lago.

Umahi said further that the construction of the Spur of the Trans-Sahara Road spanning Calabar, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa & FCT will be flagged off in Ebonyi State by Federal Government on April 16, 2025.

The Minister described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project as an investment whose positive impact on inclusive economic growth and progressive national prosperity is valuable beyond estimation.

According to him, the coastal highway would serve as a formidable evacuation corridor with inherent comparative social and economic advantages in tourism, trade, agriculture, and aquaculture, and boost several services in the maritime sector.

Recounting the gains of the investment, Umahi pointed out that, “We are going to have a CCTV on the roads. So, the response to any issue will be less than five minutes. What we have not known is that this is an evacuation corridor. I’ve said it severally.

“We are going to end carbon credit by the emission of concretes road pavement because this has no emission compared to other pavements. We are going to end carbon credit by the reason of using solar. This is very important. We are going to be planting trees all through.”

He commended Nigerians for their cooperation and support to the Renewed Hope road infrastructure initiatives, especially those who appreciate the legacy projects as part of national development programme vital for improving the standard of living of Nigerians,.

The Minister berated the twist of facts,falsehood, and inciting statements credited to the Landmark proprietor who claimed that his property worth billions of naira was destroyed and one woman trending online who claimed her property worth $250m was affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

He maintained that such claims were irresponsible and delusive. “And so, I want Nigeria to have hope in the new administration. We are building for the future, and the inherited projects are giving adequate attention. I want to thank you for your commitments and the partnership.”

He assured of the determination of Mr. President in delivering the awarded projects within a record time.