*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commends H.E. (Senator) David Umahi, Minister for Works, contractors, and Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, for supporting the projects, urging them to protect and maintain the public infrastructure for posterity

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to local content, technology transfer, and the empowerment of Nigerians.

绿帽献妻 reports President Tinubu stated this at the weekend, in Lagos, while commissioning Phase I of the iconic Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and several major road projects across the West African country.

President Tinubu聽 (middle) and other top government officials at the event

The President, on the occasion, also directed H.E. (Senator) David Umahi, Honourable Minister for Works, and other Ministers overseeing projects across Nigeria, to ensure full compliance with the laws on local content, training of Nigerians and technology transfer.

The Nigerian leader stressed the Nigerian Government would no longer compensate developers who fail to observe legal building setbacks and approvals, as well as the need for urban planning and the rule of law.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Saturday also stated President Tinubu said: “Let me warn all the developers that the Federal Government will enforce setbacks.

A section of the newly-commissioned Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Phase I

“If not for anything but for the interest of the nation. Developers who fail to get approvals will not be compensated.

“We have gazetted and published the setbacks, and we will enforce them in any way possible.”

On building Nigeria’s infrastructure

President Tinubu, in his address, particularly acknowledged Engineer Ronald Chagoury’s role in halting the Atlantic Ocean surge, and salvaging Victoria Island and Ikoyi areas of Lagos State.

He solicited more support for the future in “doing the impossible” in building Nigeria’s infrastructure.

The Nigerian leader further noted: “I said that we would do it, and we did. We averted a disaster greater than a tsunami on Victoria Island and Ikoyi.”

The President, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to be more patient with the government.

He stated: “I want to appeal to all Nigerians that hope is here. Our economy is recovering.”

Tinubu also highlighted the stability of the Foreign Exchange (Forex) and the reduction in food prices.

The President thanked the Minister for Works, contractors, and Nigerians, particularly those in Lagos, for supporting the projects.

He urged them to protect and maintain the public infrastructure for posterity.

He declared: “It is with great pleasure, pride, and a sense of fulfilment that I stand here today to commission the completed part of the Lagos 鈥� Calabar Coastal Highway Corridor.

“This is Phase I: Section I: Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village Area in the Lekki Peninsula, a section of the 700km iconic project spanning the coastal areas of Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States.”

He said: “Let me appreciate the Honourable Minister for Works, Sen. Engr. (Dr.) Nweze David Umahi, the Honourable Minister of State, Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, and all staff of the Federal Ministry of Works that made today’s commissioning possible.

“I thank you all for your commitment to this project.”

The President equally stated: “I congratulate Messrs Hitech Construction Company Limited on taking this job and showing that Nigerian firms can perform to world standards and achieve excellence in infrastructure development.

“It is most pleasing to note that the highway was constructed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement instead of Flexible Pavement, thereby assuring durability.”

Inauguration of other projects in South-South region

President Tinubu as well virtually, commissioned other projects in the South-South region, including the rehabilitation of Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road Section II (Ugep-Katsina-Ala) in Benue/Cross River States, dualisation of East-West Road Section II (Sub Section I) Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt 鈥� Ahoada in Rivers State; rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep(Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section in Cross River State.

President Tinubu (l) and Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka

Others are the upgraded 15km Section of the East-West Road Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction)-Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.

Tinubu also commissioned the rehabilitated Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Section III, Enugu-Lokpanta, in the South East Zone, a new bridge at Akpoha in Ebonyi State to replace the near-collapsed bridge; reconstruction of the collapsed Enugu Bridge at New Artisan Market Enugu-Port Harcourt Road in Enugu State.

Still, the President commissioned some projects in the South-West Zone, including Rehabilitation, Construction & Expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Dual Carriageway Section II in Oyo State; rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Shagamu Road in Lagos State; emergency comprehensive repair of the Eko Bridge (4.1km) in Lagos State (from Alaka, Surulere-Apongbon including all Ramps); the construction of Deep-Sea Port Access Road in Lagos State through Epe to Shagamu 鈥� Benin Expressway, in Lagos and Ogun States.

In the North-Central Zone, President Tinubu commissioned the construction of the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State and the Ilobu-Erin-Ile Road, in Kwara and Osun States.

In the North-East Zone, he commissioned the Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State.

In the North-West Zone, he commissioned the reconstructed Yakasai Badume-Damargu-Marken Zalli Roads, in Kano State, and the reconstruction of Kano-Kwanar Danja Hadeja Section II: Kano-Tsalle in Kano and Jigawa State.

Besides, President Tinubu flagged off the following new road construction projects: Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa-Akure-Benin Road in Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Edo States; construction of Nembe-Brass Road; construction of a section of Enugu-Onitsha Carriageway (total length of 107km); and rehabilitation of Zaria-Hunkuyi-Kufur-Gidan Mutum Daya Road in Kaduna/Kano States.

Also, the President flagged off the dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri Road, linking Kano-Jigawa-Bauchi-Yobe and Borno States (Section I: Kano-Wudil-Shuarin), which has a total length of 105km; the construction of Kano Northern Bypass Road, in Kano State; and the construction of Maiduguri Bypass Road.

Speaking on the occasion of project commissioning in Lagos also, Senate President Godswill Akapbio, assured Tinubu of more support from the National Assembly (NASS) to reposition the Nigerian economy.

Umahi, Minister for Works disclosed that the Federal Government spent N18 billion as compensation to all those affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Minister said President Tinubu had directed that all projects must consider the well-being of Nigerian consumers and issues of sustainability.

Governors of Lagos, Delta, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Borno, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, and Imo attended the project commissioning.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Chagoury brothers, and contractors witnessed all the event.

Industry captains, including Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu, attended the commissioning ceremony, in Lagos.

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