•David Umahi
The Minister for Works, David Umahi, has declared that the Lagos-Calabar highway project is neither a wasteful nor corrupt venture.
Recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had described the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt, reports The PUNCH.
The former president disclosed this in Chapter Six of his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ where he painted the portrait and characters of chief executives at both the federal and state levels.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital today, Umahi said it was normal for people to criticise the project, but assured all that the project would bring prosperity to the citizens.
He said, “The project is not wasteful and corrupt. I have read on social media where people were saying that why is the government or the contractor not explaining, but as the Minister of Work, I am qualified to explain the project.
“It is natural and normal for people to criticise, but I’ve ran the benefits of the project, the cost analysis of the project, the job is already done about 70% and the project will bring a lot of prosperity to the citizens. I’ll ask those criticising it not to follow the road.
“I want to commend the president. His peers are jealous, angry but that means he is doing very well what nobody has been able to do. The project is transparent, it is great in return of investment, so I want to urge everyone to ignore such a statement.”
Umahi also stated that the first section of the project would be completed by next year.
Speaking on other ongoing federal road projects in the state such as the Akure/Iju Road, Ilesha/Akure Road among others, the minister said plans were already in place to look into the issue of compensation so that the contractors handling the projects won’t have any problem.
In his remarks at the event, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the successful completion of federal road projects in the state, emphasising the crucial role of infrastructure in driving economic growth and development.
Aiyedatiwa commended President Bola Tinubu on the increase in federal presence in the state through many infrastructural projects, including the ongoing Ore-Ondo-Akure dualisation project, the federal teaching hospital and new aviation school, among others.
He said, “We have not had it so good in recent times with federal projects in our State. Permit me to mention but a few: the Akure – Ore Dual Carriageway, the Akure – Ado Ekiti Dual Carriageway, the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure”.
Aiyedatiwa assured the minister that his government would provide an enabling environment for the successful execution of these projects.
“We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people. In this regard, I pledge the Ondo State Government’s unflinching support and commitment towards actualising their completion,” he stated.
