Umahi Counters Donald Duke, Says Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Has Moved Beyond Epe
The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed claims by former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would not extend beyond Epe, stating that construction has already progressed well beyond that point and is advancing simultaneously across several states.
Speaking during an inspection of Section 4B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Ondo State, Umahi said the flagship infrastructure project of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is steadily taking shape, creating jobs, enhancing security and opening new opportunities for trade, agriculture and education.
Referring to Donald Duke’s earlier remarks on the project, the Minister said the visible progress on the ground has answered critics.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is already on sail. We have sailed past Lagos that my brother Donald Duke talked about,” Umahi said.
According to the Minister, construction is currently ongoing in multiple states, including Ogun, Ondo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
He disclosed that work is progressing on a 28-kilometre section in Ogun State, a 52-kilometre section in Ondo State, a 27-kilometre section in Cross River and a 47-kilometre section in Akwa Ibom, with some sections already over 60 per cent completed. He added that work is also underway on the project’s longest stretch, a 180-kilometre dual carriageway in Akwa Ibom State.
Umahi described the coastal highway as a transformational project that goes beyond road construction by creating employment, improving security and stimulating economic activities.
He revealed that more than 1,000 people have been directly employed on the Ondo section alone by HITECH Construction Company, while many others benefit indirectly through associated businesses and services.
According to him, the project has also strengthened security along construction corridors through the combined efforts of security agencies, local vigilantes and host communities.
The Minister welcomed constructive criticism but urged critics to provide practical alternatives.
“If you want to criticize us, criticize us constructively and offer alternatives,” he said.
Umahi reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to completing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, expressing confidence that the project would be delivered successfully.
He also called on people of the Niger Delta to support and defend the project, describing it as a major investment that would transform the region’s economy and improve connectivity.
Responding to allegations that the highway alignment was altered to favour private estates, the Minister explained that the adjustment was made purely on engineering and economic grounds.
He said investigations revealed that parts of the original coastal alignment contained soil deposits reaching depths of about 50 metres, making construction technically difficult and significantly more expensive. In addition, the original route would have required bridges spanning three major ocean channels of approximately 3.5 kilometres each.
Umahi explained that the revised alignment followed President Tinubu’s directive to minimise crossings over large bodies of water while ensuring the project remained technically feasible and cost-effective.
Describing the project as one of Nigeria’s most transparent and economically prudent infrastructure investments, the Minister noted that international financiers, including Deutsche Bank, commended both its engineering design and procurement process.
He said the project attracted strong investor confidence, with financing reportedly oversubscribed by more than 100 million US dollars.
Umahi also praised HITECH Construction Company for the quality of its work, professionalism and cordial relationship with host communities, describing the firm as a dependable partner in delivering the project.
Expressing optimism about the President’s infrastructure agenda, the Minister said the roads being constructed under the Tinubu administration are designed for durability and are expected to serve Nigerians for decades with minimal maintenance.
He maintained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway remains a landmark national project that will strengthen regional connectivity, boost commerce and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
