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Tag: Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway

  • LP candidate tackles Aiyedatiwa over Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

    LP candidate tackles Aiyedatiwa over Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

    The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State, Chief Sola Ebiseni, has criticised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s failure to speak on the proper alignment of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

    Ebiseni alleged that the maps of the alignment showed that the road might not appropriately traverse the Ondo coastal portion.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Akure, Ebiseni described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway as one of the most visionary projects by the Tinubu administration for the people of the Niger Delta

    He said the Ondo State portion, which is about 100 kilometres and has the longest shoreline, stands to benefit, particularly in the area of coastal investments and management of coastal erosion.

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    He said efforts by leaders of thought from Ondo State to ensure justice have proved abortive. Ebiseni said: “The governor has been indifferent. I suggested to him since May to call a meeting to brief our people for representations like other states and communities to the Federal Government on the proper and beneficial alignment of the palpable tension all over the place.

     “Our governor is busy celebrating a kilometre of the concrete walkway where a project that will enhance the establishment of deep-sea ports, coastal investments, redress the coastal erosion in Aiyetoro and other places and impact our lives and civilisation for good is being allowed to slip by. We need a governor with the proper understanding and clout to make things work.”

    Ebiseni said his chances of winning the election are high because his campaign revolves around previous achievements of the LP government in education, health, integrated rural development, and women and youth empowerment.

     He said: “My deputy, Dayo Awude, and I were commissioners in the LP government headed by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. We are not in the business of crowd rentals or preaching to the disciples by hauling our members in buses to Akure and persuading the converted. We will meet the people where they are and point to LP projects in their localities.

    “They know that under the LP government, education was free up to secondary school level with the state government paying WAEC fees, which the present government refused to pay, resulting in monumental national embarrassment where WAEC had to withhold the results of children.

    “Incidentally, these projects are easily identifiable with their LP orange colours. The people believe we can do much more because we were part of the success story. The other parties have nothing to show, except personal controversial records of their candidates.”

  • Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Alignment of interests

    Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Alignment of interests

    The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700-kilometre highway spanning nine coastal states is a top priority national project. But its impacts also extend to other stakeholders’ interests. A group of more than 100 families has raised concerns over what they described as arbitrary changes in the alignment of the road project. Assistant Editor, OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE reports on the need to ensure a balance of the national interest with equity and fairness to other stakeholders

    The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the highpoints of the economic regeneration programme of the federal government. From Lagos State to Cross River State, and with a spur to the north-central part of the country, the highway has been described as a road to economic prosperity.  While flagging it off, President Bola Tinubu said the project would revolutionise transportation in Nigeria and bolster the unique economic strength of each zone. 

     Listing the benefits and opportunities to be created by the construction of the coastal road, Tinubu  had said it would provide direct employment for thousands of people and indirect jobs for tens of thousands. He added that it will open economic opportunities for millions of people, fast-track economic development; provide 30 million people with improved access to production and marketing centres, even as it will facilitate the free movement of people.

    He said the project will also complement the expansion of the country’s maritime industry in the wake of the recent decision by the United Nations to grant Nigeria an extension of its continental shelf by an additional 16,300 square kilometres.

    “We must take advantage of these opportunities,” the President said, adding that the establishment of more export processing zones along the coastal states must be a priority for the country.

    Sadly, the latest controversy with over 100 property owners  in Lafiaji a community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State,  who are mainly senior citizens, retirees, including  those who retired from some of the nation’s intelligence  apparatus, dons and others  in their 80’s  raises a lot of question.

    In a media chat with some of the property owners such as Professor Oluropo Sekoni, Dr. Kola Akinleye, Mr. Bonojo Olalekan and Mr. Festus Ogwu they berated the actions of the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi as far as the Right of Way for the multi-billion naira Lagos/Calabar highway is concerned.

    They stated that having served Nigeria very well in their various choices of endeavours in their younger days, that it is immoral to treat them like this in their twilight when they need to enjoy the rest of their days with families and friends in peace.

    They alleged favouritism and called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to revert to the original gazetted alignment for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project.

    The property owners alleged that Umahi deviated from the original right of way to favour high-end properties, despite Tinubu’s instructions to revert to the old alignment.

    They alleged that in May 2024, property owners in Lafiaji received demolition notices from the Federal Ministry of Works and the Lagos State Government, stating that their properties encroached on the designated alignment.

    However, the residents kicked against the notices, saying an alignment for the coastal road was established as far back as 2006, and that they ensured that their properties did not encroach on the designated alignment, thereby avoiding potential conflicts with the planned coastal road construction.

    They claimed that Umahi’s actions demonstrated favouritism as he allegedly spared estates of owners with strong political connections while targeting their homes for demolition.

    “From our findings, the Honourable Minister has found it challenging to follow the presidential directive in the Lafiaji Area. We discovered that amongst some huge housing estates that allegedly have sprung up illicitly on the long-established Right of Way are Ocean Bay Estate and others.

    “The developers of these estates and some of the owners-occupiers of buildings therein are alleged to have strong political connections, ethnic ties, and social links with the powers that be. Therefore, the Honourable Minister of Works, in an unabashed display of nepotism, as alleged, ‘ruled’ that the property and buildings in these estates are too valuable to be demolished and that demolishing them would attract huge compensation from the Federal Government.

    “In consequence, it is being alleged that the Honourable Minister of Works directed that the Right of Way be altered away from the established path and the said estates and that this new alignment be made through our lands which were never established as the original Right of Way.

     “We cannot understand why our legal rights and interests must be sacrificed to please violators of the long-established Right of Way, whose illegally constructed property can be demolished and removed without any compensation whatsoever, and with justification,” the group of Lafiaji property owners said.

    However, reacting to the allegations against Umahi by the Lafiaji Property Owners in Lagos, Umahi’s Special Adviser on Media, Barr Orji Uchenna Orji denied the allegations, explaining that the Minister has been acting with the utmost best interest of the nation and the cooperation of all stakeholders.

    Read Also: Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and national development

    He noted that the project is one of the four Renewed Hope Agenda projects of the current administration and also part of the road infrastructure project expected to engender economic regeneration.

    He pointed out that the idea behind the project was to enhance strategic economic development of the nation by stimulating massive job creation, enhancement of revenue generation, hospitality, tourism and the transport eco-system.

    According to him, successive administrations couldn’t muster enough political will and courage to take such a bold decision as the 700km coastal highway.

    Orji explained that Umahi had in the course of ensuring transparency and putting a human face to the road project, organised a multi-faceted and encompassing stakeholders engagement that  included the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Nigeria Railways, Land Owners, Ministries of Transportation,  Agriculture, Interior, Telco’s etc.

    He said Umahi did this to ensure that the majority of the people will not be affected by the road infrastructure and to also check and forestall a possible collateral damage on the economy.

    He said: “At the stakeholders engagement in Lagos, there was a resolution that there will be a little adjustment to the original right of way to avoid collateral damage on the project. The stakeholders agreed that less people should be affected so the economy will not be impacted negatively.  In addition there was a resolution that a window of compensation should be undertaken by the Federal Government as they have a better template in compensation payment than the state, this is to ensure that those who may be affected will receive adequate compensation.

     “The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi is altruistic in his actions and dealings in this signature project, trying to tar him with nepotism or anything in that manner falls flat. He has a history of performance and is committed to deliver on President Bola Tinubi’s Renewed Hope Agenda”.

    Orji said the public should applaud the current administration’s resolve to decisively undertake bold projects that will impact positively on the lives of the majority of the people

    In a written statement read by Dr. Kola Akinyele, the property owners explained that when they learnt that their properties were marked for demolition, they immediately embarked on investigation, visiting the Lagos State Lands Bureau, Lagos State Office of the Surveyor-General, and the Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos.

     “We have discovered to our chagrin that the Honourable Minister of Works has disregarded and rebuffed the clear directive of the President of Nigeria, as far as our lands in the Lafiaji Area is concerned. From our findings, we make bold to say that the Honourable Minister of Works has an improper and less than patriotic reasons for arbitrarily directing a departure from the long-established Right of Way for the construction of the coastal highway in the Lafiaji Area”.

    “This is the reason, from our findings; the Honourable Minister has found it difficult to follow the presidential directive in the Lafiaji area. We discovered that amongst some huge housing estates that allegedly have sprung up illicitly on the long-established Right of Way are Ocean Bay Estate and others. “The developers of these estates and some of the owners-occupiers of buildings therein are alleged to have strong political connections, ethnic ties, and social links with the powers that be. Therefore, the Honourable Minister of Works, in an unabashed display of nepotism, as alleged, “ruled” that the property and buildings in these estates are too valuable to be demolished and that demolishing them would attract huge compensation from the Federal Government.

    “In consequence, it is being alleged that the Honourable Minister of Works directed that the Right of Way be altered away from the established path and the said estates, and that this new alignment be made through our lands which were never established as the original Right of Way.

    “After whimsically taking the decision to alter the Right of Way as aforesaid, the Honourable Minister of Works found a pretext for their actions by labelling our property as shanties to create the false impression that we are unlawful settlers and illegal occupiers of our lands. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

    “It is our considered but firm position that the decision of the Honourable Minister of Works to change the Right of Way and, therefore, the course of the highway is an abuse of power and unlawful exercise of ministerial discretions.

    “The Honourable Minister has no latitude of executive prerogatives to do that which he has directed should be done. We dare say that, after the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has specifically directed a reversion to the old, long established Right of Way, the adamance of the Honourable Minister amounts to an act of ministerial lawlessness!

    “As a result of the action of the Honourable Minister of Works we are now being confronted with the prospect of being rendered homeless. The landed properties affected are not just realty investments but also homes of many of us. Some of us currently are overseas and, therefore, are in no position to vacate and yield up possession of our property for demolition within the unreasonable time we were unconscionably given to flee our abodes,” the group stated.

    Asked on the validity of their property document, Akinyele said: we, individually, purchased and came into possession of our respective landed property at various times many years ago. We all have a common predecessor in title in the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family of Ajiran-Land in Lagos State. The title of our predecessor in title, before it was passed onto us, was confirmed by a Judgment of the High Court of Justice of Western Nigeria, delivered on the 12th day of December 1960 in Suit No. I/302/55 (Oba Onibeju & Ors. Vs Salumonu Oyebola & Ors.), a judgment that was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 25th January 1965 in Suit No. FSC/268/1963.

    “After the emergence of the Lands Use Act, 1978, the said title was further affirmed by a Judgment of the High Court of Lagos State in Suit No. ID/1883/89 (Alhaji Fatai Ajetumobi & Ors vs. Attorney-General of Lagos State), which was delivered on 18 th day of October 1991, and which declared that the Ojomu Chieftaincy Family was the holder of the customary right of occupancy over the said land. Eventually, the Lagos State Government, by an Official Gazette No. 15. Vol. 37, 2004, dated 7 th April 2004, adopted the said judgment, and excised from compulsory global acquisition the entire Lafiaji Village, an excision of which our respective landed property forms a part, down the line.

    “In the acquisition of our plots of land and development of our respective homes and property, we obtained requisite consents of the Lagos State Government to our deeds of assignments, had our respective survey plans hewed from the approved Ojomu Family Layout Plan, and obtained all the necessary building approvals and development permits from the relevant agencies of the Lagos State Government.

    “In the acquisitions of our plots of lands and in building our respective property, we were well informed about the Right of Way, clearly marked, beaconed, and established for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and, therefore, ensured that we did not encroach on or trespass to the established Right of Way.

    “However, there are those who, overtime, have built on the said Right of Way and constructed huge estates crisscrossing same in the illusion that the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway would never be built, without any valid legal title to the land on which they built; or with government officials-assisted fabricated certificates of occupancy with embossed survey-plans ( the area coordinates of which truly are that of lands adjacent and proximate to the Right of Way, but which are passed off as that of lands situated within or covered by the Right of Way, for the purpose of obtaining certificates of occupancy”.

    Akinyele said the Lafiaji property owners have unflinching support for executing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project by the long-established Right of Way, but reiterated  the residents  request to President Tinubu to protect and uphold their legal rights and interests.

    Asked if they plan to seek redress in court in the event the government fails to heed to their outcry and goes ahead to demolish their houses, the group’s Legal Counsel, Barrister Jiti Ogunye said right and morality are on his clients’ side, though they expect that reasons will prevail. But in the event they are forced to take legal action, they will have to decide whether to sue the Federal Government or Lagos State Government or both.

    With stakeholders calling for all hands to be on the deck for the economic rejuvenation programme, balancing the national priority of the coastal highway with the legitimate rights of property owners is a win-win approach.

  • ‘Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is crucial to economy’

    ‘Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is crucial to economy’

    By Sherifdeen Amusa

    The proposed 700 kilometer Lagos –Calabar coastal highway has been described as a major economic enhancer that will change the economic landscape of the country. This is why critical stakeholders in the economy and in the construction sector have continued to root for it.

    Speaking in Lagos, President of Institute of Physical Assets and Infrastructure Management (IPAIM), Dr. McCarthy Ijiebor, noted that the project 700 kilometre project and the importance of maintaining infrastructure and other national asset, is a highly commendable initiative by the President Bola Tinubu administration. 

    IPAIM, he explained, is a body with special interest in infrastructure and physical asset, with a responsibility to ensuring quality infrastructure maintenance and ensuring the nation’s infrastructure perform to full capacity.

    Maintaining physical assets and infrastructure

    According to  the IPAIM chief,  physical asset has to do with things that are both movable and unmovable, provided they can last more than a year. Whereas for infrastructure, some of them can be there for about 50 years, such as National Theatre, National Library, National Stadium and others, abandoned for years.

    “We lack a maintenance culture.  When we are acquiring assets, we do not look into the needs assessment of the kind of infrastructure we want to have. Also, we hear people saying we can generate power within one year. This is not possible. Power generation is not just going to generator manufacturer and getting a generator, install and commission it. Clearing the bush, designing and deciding the megawatts are a whole lot of issue.

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    “So, assets management is about conceptualisation of asset needs to either design, produce, test-run, instal, commission and schedule maintenance until the assets are disposed off or refurbished for future use. The reason why you see most of our infrastructure underperforming, not serving to full capacity and abandoned, is not just because of lack of a good maintenance culture alone, but because the people are not carried along to understand what the infrastructure represents, its capacity, duration and maintenance processes to ensure optimum benefits and extended lifespan. That is the gap we set out to fill or the gap we are filling.

    He explained that “the reason why you see most of our infrastructures underperforming, not serving to full capacity and abandoned, is not just because of lack of a good maintenance culture alone, but because the people are not carried along to understand what the infrastructure represents, its capacity, duration and maintenance processes to ensure optimum benefits and extended lifespan. That is the gap we set out to fill or the gap we are filling. In addition, you will also discover that ensuring that the right things are done with our physical assets and infrastructureenhances safety and reliability as well as reduces disruption.  It will facilitate growth of the economy, attract investments, create jobs, conserve resources and foster competitiveness in trade and commerce. Above all, it will ensure an improved quality of life for Nigerians.

    Effective management and maintenance

    But while Nigeria has made efforts to manage its physical assets and infrastructure, there’s still room for improvement. He noted some of the loopholes to include inadequate maintenance, insufficient funding, and lack of standardised practice.

    “For instance, many assets are not properly maintained, leading to premature deterioration. Additionally, funding for asset management is often inadequate, and there’s a lack of standardised practice across different sectors. As an institution, we aim to address these gaps through training, research and advocacy for best practice in asset management, such as adopting ISO 55001 standards,”  he said.

    700km Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway

    IPAIM, he said, is extremely delighted about the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway project, which he described as a commendable project with huge economic benefits. “It will boost the interconnectivity of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa terminating in Calabar. It shortens travel time. We, at IPAIM, are pleased and thankful to President Bola Tinubu for initiating that. And don’t forget that Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is crucial to those of us in Niger Delta.

    “However, we must also consider the pros and cons, including tolls and displacement. To mitigate these, we could implement staggered tolls to ease the burden on low-income users, alternative routes to minimise displacement and fair compensation for affected communities. A balanced approach will ensure the project benefits the nation without undue burden on citizens. We must also consider the project’s environmental impact and ensure it is designed with sustainability in mind,” he said.

     Curbing abandoned projects

    Speaking on the preponderance of abandoned projects, Dr. Ijiebor noted “abandoned projects can be curbed through thorough project planning, regular monitoring, and accountability measures.

    “We at IPAIM propose community involvement in project planning to ensure local needs are met; public-private partnerships to leverage resources and expertise, and transparent project reporting to track progress. Additionally, we recommend regular project audits and penalties for non-completion to ensure accountability. By taking these steps, we can minimise the occurrence of abandoned projects and ensure public funds are utilised effectively.”

     Concession of assets

    He argued that while concessioning or selling public assets may provide short-term gains, it can also have long-term implications as loss of national control and revenue.

    “We suggest alternative solutions as public-private partnerships, asset refurbishment and maintenance training programmes to preserve national assets and promote self-sufficiency. For instance, instead of selling a public asset, we could partner a private company to refurbish and maintain it, ensuring the asset remains under national control while benefiting from private sector expertise.”

    Engagement of foreign contractors

    He said while foreign contractors bring expertise, relying heavily on them can hinder local capacity building and lead to dependence on external resources. IPAIM, he said,  “advocate capacity building through training and skills transfer programmes, local content policies to ensure Nigerian professionals are involved in projects and effective maintenance planning and training for local teams. This approach will ensure project sustainability and develop local expertise for future projects.”

    Raising skill professional

    Dr. Ijiebor explained that the institute is involved in educating people on importance of physical assets and infrastructure management. IPAIM, he said, facilitates the training and education on the importance of maintaining our physical assets and infrastructure because it is enough that we are having infrastructure deficit.

    This is aside IPAIM’s effort to raise a generation of skilled professionals. “We’ll partner educational institutions to develop curriculum and training programmes focused on physical asset and infrastructure management. We’ll offer mentorship initiatives, certification courses, and continuous learning opportunities to build a robust pipeline of experts. Additionally, we’ll collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure our training meet industry needs and provide opportunities for practical experience. By taking a comprehensive approach to capacity building, we can develop a skilled workforce to drive our development.”

  • Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Much political sabre-rattling about little (1)

    Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Much political sabre-rattling about little (1)

    By Tiko Okoye

    Reactions to the announcement by Works Minister Dave Umahi that the government has commenced the first phase of the construction of the N15 trillion, 10-lane, 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway were fast and furious by those who particularly have an axe to grind one way or the other with the Presidency.

    This writer has succeeded in crystallising three schools of thought, after watching, reading and listening to a plethora of commentators expressing their feelings about the project. The first school comprises professional knee-jerk critics and traducers whose first instinct is to say “No” to anything or any measure an elective office holder they viscerally detest might say or adopt, no matter how specifically or generally beneficial.

    Quite interestingly, two of the other three top performers in the 2023 presidential election, with their fan bases, comprise the faculty and student population of this school. Members of this school are the fewest in number but are the most vociferous and querulous by reason of being media and political influencers. Their delusions of grandeur make them believe that they constitute the only pebble on the beach and those the cock regularly crows for early in the morning.

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    The second school of thought comprises those who make efforts – genuine and hypocritical – to balance their arguments by starting off espousing the benefits of one course of action prior to ending up in the completely opposite direction. They are more in number than the first school but less than the third school.

    The third school of thought comprises nonchalant members who have no point of view one way or the other. This is not surprising in a society where the literacy rate and social media uptake are relatively low. The farther away they are from the project site, the more these members tend to grow in their numbers. An interesting corollary is that the nearer members of this school are to the project site, the more intense their angst and envy-driven negative sentiments fuelled by emotions of being metaphorically dealt a lemon by a strange quirk of fate.

    The arguments marshalled against the execution of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are legion but I’ll discuss those I consider non-pedestrian and most relevant. These include allegations that President Bola Tinubu awarded the ‘mouth-watering’ contract to a friend he started a business relationship with while he was the governor of Lagos State; that his son, Seyi, sits on the Board of a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group; as well as that the project is too pricey and constitutes a misplaced priority at a time of scarcity with so many decrepit Trunk A roads begging for attention.

    Other allegations are that the citizenry are better served by restoring and revitalising comatose educational institutions and healthcare facilities; that it smacks of an abuse of due process; that the attendant demolitions of business properties are throwing thousands of people into the labour market and driving away foreign investors; and that the project doesn’t take cognisance of its environmental and social impact on the geomorphology of the areas involved.  

    Those who allege a conflict of interest because President Tinubu and his son are very close to the Chagoury family – owners of the construction firm – are simply engaging in sophistry. As much as I loathe engaging in whatabouter arguments, I still can’t help it when Nigerian Trumpians who obidiently see nothing wrong in whatever POTUS Donald Trump says or does are the same ones who disobidiently gripe and snipe the most whenever a similar incident occurs in Nigeria.

    Being his daughter and son-law didn’t stop Trump from appointing Ivanka and Jared Kushner topmost White House aides, and America the MAGA world didn’t implode. They both put up an excellent performance, especially Jared who brokered the landmark “Abraham Accord” that would’ve seen key Arab nations normalise relations with Israel if not for the latter’s invasion of Gaza.

    Besides, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Tinubu’s estranged political soulmate and chief conductor of the conflict-of-interest orchestra, has publicly admitted that he co-founded Intels with an Italian businessman while serving full-time as a top management staff of the Nigeria Customs Service and he still actively maintained his business links with the company that won many port concession deals while serving as Nigeria’s No.2 man. Only the gullible and misinformed would refuse to wonder why the kettle is dead set on calling the pot black.

    What’s of utmost importance in such instances is having an effective system of checks and balances to ensure that everyone complies with regulatory requirements. And this is where hand-picking the Chagoury Group might be a sticking point, given that there was no public tender as required by the Public Procurement Act (PPA). But the Works Minister has since publicly stated that the PPA permits the government to head-hunt any particular company guaranteed to deliver the best value-for-money proposition when uncommon expertise in any particular complex sector trumps the need to go through the bureaucratic and often unproductive and time-wasting process of a public tender.

    Are investigative journalists too mentally lazy to FactCheck the minister or is that they believe that sticking with a shaming storyline enables them procure high ratings, as bad news reportedly travels faster, and sells more, than good news? Come on, even among ourselves, do we start fooling around for, say, a mechanic to pick from a pool when our vehicle develops a very complicated defect or do we make a beeline to that mechanic widely renowned for handling such faults?      

    The South-South is the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs. Can any reasonable person deny that such a spectacular project would catalyse rapid economic development on both sides of the road corridor, culminating in heightened commercialisation-cum-industrialisation and ramping up land and property values as well as creating job and income opportunities for indigenes of the affected eight states of Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states?

    Many of those in the first two schools of thought contend that the government should focus on completing the moribund East-West Road if it harbours a pristine desire to improve the welfare of Niger Deltans, and divert the savings from abandoning the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to ‘more needy’ areas. For crying out loud, somebodies must be toying with the sensibilities of Niger Deltans to ventilate that the road is a misplaced priority. The East-West Road was initiated by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005. Nearly a quarter of a centenary later, along with trillions of naira in sunk costs, the project still hasn’t been completed, with long stretches of failed portions to boot!

    Critics and traducers of the Lagos-Calabar super highway posit that our road networks are so bad that it’s hardly surprising that Nigeria is ranked 131st out of 141 countries by the GlobalEconomy.com on road quality. This constitutes the basis of their demand that the Presidency should immediately end further works on the coastal highway and use the funds to fix our decrepit road infrastructure.   

    Truth be told, a lot of uncompleted road projects inherited from the Muhammadu Buhari administration reportedly left a N6 trillion debt overhang for the incoming Bola Tinubu administration. The sum of N300 billion provided in the 2023 supplementary budget to complete or rehabilitate these cratered roads that seem more like death traps is like a bucketful of water poured into an ocean. But has it ever occurred to these acerbic critics that not only was Rome not built in a day, but also that during spells of prolonged inflationary spiral, such as we are now facing, rebuilding or rehabilitating a comatose project can be much costlier than a greenfield improved project?  

    Umahi has disclosed that there are similar road projects in the offing, such as the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway and the Enugu-Abakiliki-Ogoja-Cameroon super highway, with a spur that will run through Oturkpo to Nasarawa and terminate at Abuja. These road projects may seem to be a deliberate geopolitical balancing to appease Nigerians across the board.

    Given its 1,000-kilometre length, the Sokoto-Badagry highway project is projected to gulp as much as N20 trillion – a whopping N5 trillion above the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road. But the fiery critics and traducers seem to be solely fixated on the latter, with hardly a whimper of negative criticism of others nationwide, especially the most pricey of them all – the former! It ought to prod you to wonder why, shouldn’t it?  

    Anyone who claims not to know what’s going on is only deluding himself or herself. Still, interested persons who really can’t read between the lines and through the tea leaves should keep a date with the conclusion of this two-part serial that’s guaranteed to end in a crescendo!

    • To be concluded

    Okoye is a public affairs commentator

  • Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: Provide guarantees, credit instruments for approval, Reps tell FG

    Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: Provide guarantees, credit instruments for approval, Reps tell FG

    …resolve to investigate procurement process

    The House of Representatives on Thursday, May 9, asked the Minister of Finance and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to furnish the National Assembly all guarantees and credit enhancement instruments for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project for approval 

    The House also resolved to investigate the procurement and award process of the multi billion Lagos to Calabar coastal highway. 

    In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance by Hon. Austin Achado (APC, Benue), the House also asked the Ministry of Works to furnish the National Assembly with details of the procurement processes leading to the award of the contract

    There have been series of controversies surrounding the award of the contract to Hitech construction for the over 700 kilometers road whose construction is expected tobe completed in five years. 

    Achado informed the House that the procurement process did not follow due process, adding that funding for the project was also not approved by the National Assembly. 

    Achado said the Federal Ministry of Works has executed an engineering procurement construction and finance contract in favour of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited, for the delivery of the 700km Lagos to Calabar Coastal Road and Rail Project estimated at a rate of N4.329 Billion Naira per kilometer, using reinforced concrete technology for a carriage width of 59.7metres, to include 10 lanes, shoulders and rail with additional designs of service ducts, street lights, drainages and shore protection. 

    He said this laudable project with the prospect of providing easy access for movement of goods and services across the nation, has a financing structure, as announced by the Minister of Works, which requires the federal government to provide 15 to 30 percent co-financing, while the private sector counterpart will provide the balance, and to toll the road when completed for a minimum period of 15 years, to ensure full recovery of all debts and equity applied for the delivery of the project. 

    He expressed concern that the Procurement Strategy used in the award of three contract may have violated the Public Procurement Act 2007, section 40(2).

    The section he said requires that where a procuring authority adopts to use Restrictive Tendering Approach, it should be on the basis that the said goods and services are available only from a limited number of suppliers and contractors and as such, tenders shall be invited from all such Contractors who can provide such goods and services 

    According to Achado, the Procurement Strategy adopted by the Federal Ministry of Works for the award of the contract violates the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act 2905.

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    He said Section 4 of the Act outlines that all approved Infrastructure projects and contracts for Financing, Construction and Maintenance must be advertised for Open Competitive Public Bid, in at least three National dailies while Section 5 of the Act further clarifies that any Direct Negotiations with only one Contractor could be allowed, only after exhausting the provisions of section 4.

    He said further that in promoting the project has provided a rate per kilometer for the planned works, the Federal Ministry of Works has not provided the private partner’s financing sources, structure and competitiveness, as this is likely to create contingent liabilities to the Nigerian Government 

    He said further that the Contingent Liabilities accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the project violate section 22(3) of the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act of 2023 which states that the Minister shall not guarantee an external loan unless the terms and conditions of the loan shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution. 

    The Benue lawmaker alleged that the guarantees issued to cover the debt financing component of the project do not have the approval of this National Assembly. 

  • Five things to know about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction

    Five things to know about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction

    The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is a huge effort to connect two big cities along the country’s southern coast to make it easier for people and goods to transit.

    This project will make the region better connected, help businesses grow, and make transportation smoother.

    The highway will be like a main road for trade and business, linking Lagos, a busy city in the west, to Calabar, a lively port city in the east.

    Embarking on this huge project will foster new opportunities for communities and businesses, making a big difference to Nigeria‘s economy and society.

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    Here are five facts about the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway you should know:

    Nigeria’s largest infrastructure project is the 700-kilometer Highway.

    1. Size

    The Highway is Nigeria’s largest infrastructure project which is 700-kilometer in size.

    2. Cost

    The construction of the highway will require a cost of N15 trillion, translating to N4 billion per kilometer.

    3. Construction

    The highway’s construction will progress in stages over an anticipated eight-year period. The initial phase will consist of a 47.47-kilometer dual carriageway featuring five lanes on each side, complemented by a central train track.

    4. Route

    The extensive highway project is set to link Lagos with Cross River, traversing through several states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom. Additionally, it will incorporate two spurs branching out towards the northern states.

    5. Purpose

    The ambitious highway project aims to enhance connectivity and foster economic growth along Nigeria’s coastline, facilitating seamless links between key urban centers, ports, and economic hubs. Moreover, it is anticipated to unlock additional premium land and beachfront areas while alleviating congestion in Lekki, potentially reducing travel time from Lagos to Calabar from 12 hours to 7 hours.

  • Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: FG begins property demolition, allays fears 

    Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: FG begins property demolition, allays fears 

    As the demolition of properties along the right of way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway begins, the federal government has promised to conduct the process with sensitivity, aiming to minimize disruptions to the lives of those affected. 

    Minister of works, David Umahi, emphasized the importance of this approach, highlighting that the highway’s construction signifies a significant step in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for economic diversification, while reassuring that compensation for affected property owners will be promptly provided without delays. 

    He gave this assurance in a statement on Sunday by his media adviser, Uchenna Orji, during the flag-off of the demolition of properties affected by the right of way on section 1 of the 700km highway being handled by Hitech Construction Company Ltd.  

    The minister, however, stressed the federal government’s concern for the well-being of the people while assuring that the demolition process along the right of way would be carried out with a human face.

    Requesting the cooperation of the affected individuals regarding the timeline of the demolition exercise, Umahi said: “We are doing some minor adjustments, and our commitment is to stay within the coastline.

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    “When the initial demolition order was passed to all the affected investors, so to speak, I graciously increased the period to another seven days and yet another 4 days, and here we are because the project stopped because of the part of this demolition, and I want to commend  the likes of Mr Bolaji.

    “This demolition  is going to have a pure human  face and so with the utmost fear of God, gratitude  to God Almighty  and commitment  to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in our infrastructural development  in particular, I wish to flag-off this demolition exercise to get a right of way within  the coastal corridor which is the legitimate  right of the Federal Government.”

    While calling on all those to be affected  by the exercise  to take it as a sacrifice for the  ultimate impact of the project on the economic  prosperity of the nation, the minister highlighted the socio-economic advantages of the project, which include cost savings for entrepreneurs and the stability it will instill in the economy. 

    Umahi also urged antagonists of the project to reconsider their stance for the betterment of all Nigerians, saying, “For those playing  politics with this economic enhancing project, those who are playing  politics with this can go ahead. My job is simple, just to pass the coastal  road and those who are into politics can continue”.

    Speaking  during  the event, Bolaji Ariyo (Mami Chula), a property owner affected by the demolition, who acknowledged that the project would impact his business, however, expressed his willingness to make sacrifices for the greater benefit of the millions of Nigerians whose livelihoods would be positively influenced by the project upon completion.

    He urged other individuals affected by the project to view it as a sacrifice for the collective benefit of all Nigerians, saying, “Yeah, some of us are affected, no doubt about it. But some of us are not up to 0.1% of the millions of people that we enjoy the coastal road. 

    “That’s why someone  like me and some others also have taken it to heart to also support Mr. President and the Honourable Minister to ensure that this road comes to life.” 

  • Benefits of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

    Benefits of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

    • By Orji Uchenna Orji

    The trending posts of criticisms by some notable politicians on the propriety and priority of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project being executed by the Renewed Hope administration of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, are no doubt baseless thoughts of critics who are either bereft of the knowledge of the workings of the project initiative or they deliberately want to sacrifice the modest developmental efforts of Mr. President on the altar of their political ambitions. It is unthinkable that such highly placed people fail to understand the various elucidations provided by the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi, CON, on when the project was conceptualized, the various administrations that attempted but failed to carry out the project, the economic and technical considerations that gave rise to the commencement of the project under the Renewed Hope administration, the funding and procurement details and indeed the dimensions, importance, priority and propriety of the projects in the national developmental trajectory.

    For avoidance of doubt, the Lagos- Calabar coastal highway project is being done under EPC +F. What does this type of funding entail? This is a project financing mechanism in which EPC+F contractors also arrange financing for the project. EPC+F is Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing. Engineering here includes design and specification. This initiative provides a fixed price, fixed date, and transfers risks to the contractor. This type of funding requires only a counterpart funding from the Federal Government. Such funds are sourced by contractors where they have confidence in the economic policies of government, which essentially entails allowing the participation of the private sector in the road infrastructure development through PPP or EPC+F. 

    During the recent Inauguration of the Committee on Compensation of owners of properties that will be affected by section 1 of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway, the Honourable Minister emphasized the nature of the project funding and the workings of EPC + F when he said, “And graciously, Mr. President had approved that this section three will start from Calabar, which is the end point of the project, and start running towards Akwa Ibom. So, the 700 km is procured under phase one, in phases, and it’s EPC +F. EPC+F is engineering, procurement, construction, and finance. And so, under this kind of arrangement, the contractor is expected to bring in a certain amount of money, and Federal Government is expected to pay certain counterpart funding.”

    Read Also: Lagos-Calabar coastal highway gets compensation panel

    No patriotic Nigerian should discourage this kind of project where funding is substantially from the contractor. There is no doubt that Mr. President is aggressively tackling the backlogs of uncompleted road projects. In the 2023 Supplementary Budget, Mr. President approved funds for intervention on the over 260 dilapidated roads nationwide. The 2024 appropriation made provision for capital investment on our critical roads across the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria. The Honourable Minister has already made a great difference in the road infrastructure development roadmap of this administration through his new innovations on road construction and rehabilitation, his power of supervision, and his contract negotiation power which is second to none in the history of the Federal Ministry of Works. He has been touring around and supervising the various ongoing projects of the Federal Government, and the difference is already there. The people are testifying of the quality and speed of road projects being executed by the Renewed Hope administration. He has proven track records on road infrastructure development. He is not into rhetoric like many politicians who talk high but can do only less. The administration of President Tinubu is doing roads that will stand the test of time. The roads he is fixing will facilitate economic recovery. The patriotic Nigerians are already applauding the good efforts of Mr. President, but professional politicians are busy criticizing a landmark project that will launch Nigeria into the league of the best economies on the continent.

    On the importance of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project to the economy of the nation, it is clear that the coastal highway, when completed, will foster national economic growth. Notably, all roads in the country are important as reflected by the interventions of this administration on road rehabilitation across the nation, but the coastal highway offers much more economic benefits to the nation because of its connectivity to the North and South through the existing spurs. The road, when completed, has the potential to increase Nigeria’s GDP and trigger industrialisation, create trade, enhance the transportation of goods and services, and safety of road users. The road is going to be the biggest super highway in Africa in terms of the structure and solidity as well as utility value, having ten lanes with a rail track designed for concrete technology, covering 700 kilometers. It is going to attract foreign direct investment to Nigeria, and it is going to trigger economic development. It is going to develop the potential of our coastal businesses, especially at the local economic corridors, and boost tourism and marine businesses.

    • Orji is Special Adviser( Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works
  • Lagos-Calabar coastal highway gets compensation panel

    Lagos-Calabar coastal highway gets compensation panel

    The Federal Government has set up a Compensation Verification Committee to settle property owners affected by the construction of the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

    Works Minister Dave Umahi announced this during the inauguration of the committee yesterday in Abuja.

    The minister said verified claims would be settled within 72 hours by the contractor, Hitech Construction Limited.

    He stressed that only property owners with proven titles would get the compensation, while owners of shanties and those with property within the 250 metre shoreline setback without a Federal Government title would not be compensated.

    Umahi also said compensating for such titles would necessitate a presidential waiver, should the President deem it appropriate.

    The minister said the committee has 10 days to carry out its mandate.

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    The Federal Controller for Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Keisha, is the committee’s chairman, while other members are representatives of the Federal Ministry of Works, the Lagos State government, Landlord Associations, traditional rulers and property owners on the axis affected by the project as well as the ESIA Consultants.

    “The work to be reviewed by the committee is very simple: interact with property owners that are going to be affected and in the presence of the committee, property owners and ESIA Consultant and the contractor, look at the compensation as enumerated to be paid and, if possible, visit the site.

    “We are using the Federal rate in our enumeration, which is higher than the Lagos rate. I know very well that there is nobody who has been enumerated that is ever satisfied with how much is to be paid, but we are bound by law. So, we are using the Federal rate.

    “The moment the property owner signs the forms we gave them to fill and indicates the bank account, within 72 hours we authorise payment.

    “The contractor is going to pay directly to all those affected. This, we are committed to doing. This verification exercise starts in Lagos on Wednesday,” Umahi said.

    The minister advised the committee not to go beyond its Terms of Reference but to review the proposal made by ESIA Consultants for compensation and work with all stakeholders.

  • Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: FG begins compensation payment

    Lagos-Calabar coastal highway: FG begins compensation payment

    The federal government has initiated compensation payments to property owners affected by the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project by setting up the compensation verification committee.

    The Minister of Works, David Umahi, said that verified claims will be settled within 72 hours by the contractor, Hitech Construction Ltd.

    He also clarified that only property owners with proven titles will receive compensation, while shanties and those with property within the 250m shoreline setback without a Federal government title would not be compensated, as it is a legal matter.

    However, he stressed that compensating for such titles would necessitate a Presidential waiver, should the President deem it appropriate.

    During the inauguration of the committee in Abuja on Thursday, Umahi directed that it has a 10-day deadline to fulfill its mandate.

    The federal controller, Lagos, Keisha is the chairman who has the representative Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos State government, landlord association, traditional rulers, and property owners on the axis affected by the project as well as the ESIA Consultants.

    “The work to be reviewed by the committee is very simple, interact with property owners that are going to be affected, and in the presence of the committee, property owners and ESIA Consultant, and the contractor, look at the compensation as enumerated to be paid and if possible visit the site.

    “We are using the Federal rate in our enumeration which is higher than the Lagos rate. I know very well that there is nobody who has been enumerated that is ever satisfied with how much is to be paid but we are bound by law, so we are using the Federal rate.

    “The moment the property owner signs the forms we gave them to fill and indicates the bank account, within 72 hours we authorize payment.

    “The contractor is going to pay directly to all those affected. This, we are committed to doing, this verification exercise starts in Lagos on Wednesday”.

    The minister however advised the committee not to go beyond its Terms of Reference reviewing the proposal made by ESIA Consultants for compensation and work with all stakeholders to have this achieved.

    Tasking the committee to be diligent in adhering to the dictates of the law, he said, “The committee is not in charge of ramp or anything but just to verify those who are going to be paid compensation, the authenticity of those filling for compensation, verify the dimensions, where possible, the amount and in their presence where the property owner signed, once these are authenticated, we direct the contractor to go ahead and pay.

    “It is from the contractor’s money where the compensation is routed.

    “But where there is a title problem, it will need a Presidential waiver for such to be paid. It is only those with proven titles will be paid as they are brought to us in the Ministry because they will still undergo all the verification processes.

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    “Even though we have shortened the process, there is no room for delayed files, so the property owners can rest assured that within 72 hours, we will do the needful for that to happen

    “The committee must also make it clear to the property owners that 250m belongs to the Federal government, as prescribed by law.

    “So anyone with a title within the 250m and is not a Federal government title, then it is incumbent that only the President can give a waiver if he feels so for the person to be paid.

    “So, I will work within the confines of the law”.

    He said the Federal rate of compensation would be calculated based on area and volume.