Minister of Works David Umahi has guaranteed stakeholders that the design plans for the 63-kilometer section within Ondo State will be completed by November.
He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to improving Nigeria’s road infrastructure across all 36 states.
According to The PUNCH, the Minister disclosed this during a town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, highlighting Tinubu’s plans for nationwide road improvements, with particular attention to ongoing projects like the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, which will link nine states across 700 kilometers along Nigeria’s coastline.
Focusing on the Ondo segment of the project, Umahi said, “We will conclude the design (for Ondo State) within the month of November and we will inaugurate it,” he announced, underscoring the importance of this road for boosting economic connectivity along the coast.
In addition to its economic impact, the coastal highway project is seen as a strategic investment for the country. Segments in Lagos and Akwa Ibom have already been inaugurated, and the Federal Government aims to follow through in other states soon.
At the meeting, Umahi also acknowledged the urgent need for improvements nationwide, attributing much of the current backlog of road repairs to the more than 20,000 infrastructure projects inherited by Tinubu’s administration in May 2023.
“One of the things we saw when we came on board was that Tinubu inherited 20,604 projects as of May 29, 2023, worth over N13tn,” he explained. “At the time, contractors were being owed N1.6tn for jobs done. So, the President, a man of courage, said he would fix all the projects he inherited.”
Umahi promised that all outstanding projects would be completed within 14 months, with accountability at the forefront.
“Some of these projects are 20 years, 13 years, 17 years and five years. The President believes that these projects should be fixed in 14 months and if they are not fixed, I will take responsibility,” he said.
Reiterating the administration’s resolve to address longstanding infrastructure challenges, Umahi stated, “We are committed to turning our stone into bread. There is no complaint. We are not distracted. I take responsibility for every failure, any bad road, any road that is ongoing and not being constructed.”
He further emphasized Tinubu’s investment-driven approach, especially for economically significant states like Ondo.
“The commitment of Mr. President in this legacy project is not just constructing roads, but it is an investment,” he asserted.
Umahi was also firm about maintaining a high standard for contractors. He revealed that over ten contracts with prominent companies had been canceled due to inadequate performance and warned that further terminations would follow if contractors did not comply with project expectations.
“We have terminated over 10 contracts of big companies and we have the mind to terminate more,” he declared, adding, “You can’t dictate for us. We will tell you what we want. Our books are very much open.”
Umahi has tasked federal road controllers with ensuring that all federal highways are motorable by Christmas, collecting detailed reports on each road, whether awarded or pending.
In support of the government’s objectives, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the administration for the Lagos-Calabar highway initiative, noting its potential to foster regional development.
“He (Tinubu) is supporting us economically. I want to thank you for all the other projects in the country. This project will be of huge benefit to us, that is why we are going to cooperate with the Federal Government and the contractors,” Aiyedatiwa said.
Also commending Tinubu’s resolve, House of Representatives Works Committee Chairman Akin Alabi pledged legislative support, focusing on accountability and contractor performance.
“We at the House of Representatives are fully behind the President and the minister,” he stated. “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.”
Alabi also emphasized strict payment protocols, calling for an end to what he termed a “scam” where contractors receive funds without delivering on their projects.
