The Federal Ministry of Works led by the Minister of Works Engr Dave Umahi has concluded all arrangements to kick off the construction of Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway.
The road construction project brought much criticism especially from the former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party Presidential Candidate in 2023 presidential election in Nigeria His Excellency Mr Peter Obi who said that the funds should be channelled into solving pressing needs for the country to avert misplaced priority .
To execute the project in the mapped areas where the road will pass, many structures such as private beaches were affected and part of the beaches would be demolished to give way for the road construction project.
Landmark Beach was not the only beach affected by this gigantic project as peddled in some places to incite hatred, especially among some tribes. About five private beaches so far have been counted among the private establishments that the structures will be affected.
The Federal Government of Nigeria delivered compensation message through the Federal Ministry of Works disclosing that above two billion naira has been earmarked for compensation of those whose structure was affected by the coastal highway. There was emphasis on properties that have authentic papers approved by the government and not illegal structures.
The road contract was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd as approved and supervised by the Federal Ministry of Works to deliver on the delivery of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway.
At the end of the road construction project starting in Lagos to terminating in Calabar, Cross River, the Federal government said it would become easy for people to travel from Lagos to other places the road would pass till the endpoint.
In a public opinion gotten from Elon Musk X’s social media, many people said that the Federal government should have started the project from Calabar so that investors in the affected beach areas would use five years to recover some of their investment and move out of the structure permanently.
Many also said that the project would take many years if not decades before full completion.
The coming years will tell how fast the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway will be handled and many naysayers hope it won’t be an abandoned project leading to a waste of time and taxpayers’ resources.
The road project is a gigantic one and a proposed railway track was also included as part of the benefits of the big road contract that the news has dominated social media spaces in Nigeria due to debates and different public opinions which only the end will justify the means.