“We’re Constructing N15trn Lagos/Calabar Coastal Road With Fear Of God”-Umahi

Dave Umahi, The Minister of Works, says the federal government is approaching the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road with the fear of God.

The minister made this known on Wednesday in Lagos during an interaction with stakeholders and those affected by the multi-billion construction project.

Umahi spoke amidst the trenchant criticism that has greeted the project, particularly the cost which has been described to be over inflated.  

Top opposition figures in the country such as the PDP Presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP say the project is not a priority at this time.

The LP candidate, Obi, has demanded that the project be jettisoned in the interest of Nigeria due to the humungous funds needed for its construction. The project, according to the government will cost close to N13 trillion.  

Atiku on his part has lamented the huge job loses that will result from the project. No fewer than 20,000 people are expected to the thrown into the labour market as a result of the construction, according to checks.

Speaking yesterday at the second meetings with stakeholders, Umahi said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that the project work be done with “the fear of God.”

According to him, the federal government has ensured fairness to all that are concerned, particularly people whose property are affected by the road construction.

 Umhai said: “Mr President says that this development must have two factors. One is the fear of God, and the second is the human face, and that’s what we have tried to do.

“Since we came on Thursday, we have been going through the route every day from morning to about 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. We’ve made hard decisions. In some cases, we have followed the gazetted routes. In other cases, we have realigned to the coastal line, majorly. And the coastal line from the shore, 250 metres by the Supreme Court judgment, belongs to the federal government.

“I talk in particular about Landmark. There is none of his infrastructure that is affected. I agree that there are some people he subleased the place to, but the shoreline was never given to him by the Oniru family. These people he sublet to, he erected some caravans, makeshifts, so on and so forth within the shoreline. So, we are dealing with these people who sublet the shoreline illegally.”