The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, on Thursday assured that the 63km axis of the Calabar/Lagos coastal highway alignment in Ondo State will be inaugurated in the month of December.
Umahi stated this during a Town Hall meeting/Stakeholders engagement on the alignment of the Ondo 63-65km segment of Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, held at the banquet hall of the government house, Akure.
Specifically, Umahi assured the people that as soon as the designing of the road is completed, in the month of November, works would begin immediately in December, emphasising that at the completion of the road, business potentials of the communities and the state in general would pick up geometrically.
He, however, disclosed that no fewer than 2,000 road projects running into trillions of naira were met by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government.
The Minister also disclosed that 10 contracts have been terminated by the Ministry for non performance by the construction companies.
He explained that the President Bola Tinubu-led government has embarked on several legacy projects that would transcend the administration.
Speaking on the incessant sea incursion of the riverine Aiyetoro community in Ondo State, the Minister assured the people that the Federal Government and the state government were committed to restoring the community.
Umahi said: “We have terminated over ten contracts of big companies and we have the mind to terminate more and you can’t dictate for us we will tell you what we want. Our books are very much open. We will conclude the design (for Ondo State) within the month of November and we will inaugurate it.
“We have directed that all federal road controllers should give us details of roads within their domain, whether awarded or not, so that by this Christmas, all federal high roads will be motorable. We are coming back after your election to start the Aiyetoro project which will get started after this one.
“Nigerians should be grateful that we have a listening president. He is committed to all sectors. This country still has a lot of potentials.”
In his remark, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa commended President Tinubu for the legacy project, noting that the coastal highway project has no political undertone.
“President Tinubu is supporting us economically. I want to thank you for all the other projects in the country. These projects will be of huge benefit to us, that is why we are going to cooperate with the Federal Government and the contractors.”
On his part, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, stated that “We are at the House of Representatives are fully behind the President and Works Minister. Our aim is that at the end of the day, we want Nigeria to work. We have to say bye-bye to the practice of contractors collecting money and not working.
”If contractors are not in site, don’t pay them, that’s one of the biggest scams in the ministry.”
Appreciating the President and the Minister for ensuring the coastal highway passed through the state, a representative of the riverine communities in the state, Banji Okunomo appealed that the Minister should ensure the project is completed at the stipulated time and with total adherence to the specification.
Fidelis David
Follow us on:
