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Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Contract Awarded To Hitech Construction Company – FG.
By Anthony Beauty
Lagos – The award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction contract has been granted to Hitech Road Construction Company by the Federal Government. The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made the announcement during a meeting held in Lagos with engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractor’s team.
Umahi highlighted that this project, aimed at improving national connectivity, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to Nigeria’s restoration and rapid development. “President Tinubu is eager to fast-track the project’s commencement as part of his nation-improvement initiatives.” Umahi stressed.
The minister revealed that this initial meeting marked the first step, with another meeting scheduled in two weeks to finalize construction agreements. The project will be executed as a Public Private Partnership and will include tolls upon completion, with funding already secured by the contractor.
Phased Construction, Rail Integration, and Tolling Strategy.
Umahi outlined the project’s phased construction approach, including rail integration and toll collection strategy on every completed sections. The highway will link the Lagos-Badagry Expressway Superhighway, the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Lekki Deep Sea Port Road, and connect various points in Northern Nigeria via Ogoja-Ikom.
This highway will serve as a crucial link between South West, South East, the Niger Delta Coast of the South-South, and other regions, integrating with existing federal roads to promote economic and social development across the country.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will begin at Victoria Island near Eko Atlantic City, pass through the Lekki Coastal Road, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the Dangote Refinery. It will connect Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Aqua-Ibom, and reach Calabar, with careful consideration for environmental and safety factors, particularly in oil-producing areas
The proposed project, spanning roughly 650 to 700 kilometers in its initial design, is set to incorporate rail lines running within the central lanes of the primary roadways.
Governor Umahi disclosed that this endeavor aims to invigorate the tourism sector and introduce industrial hubs encompassing hotels, factories, residential complexes, and various essential amenities.
The minister underscored the pioneering utilization of 11-inch-thick concrete roadways reinforced with 20-millimeter materials. This approach will promote local cement production, enhance steel manufacturing capabilities in Ajaokuta, and harness Nigeria’s abundant bitumen resources
In his words:
- “It is quite innovative and the giant of Africa is beginning to show her prowess and this is being revitalized by the captain of the ship, his excellency President Bola Tinubu.
- “So, this is beautiful. Another good news is that this is going to be built on a concrete road of 11 inches thick with 20-millimeter reinforcement.”
Minister Umahi further acknowledged that the project would face difficulties as it traverses mangroves, marshy regions, flood plains, and diverse soil compositions. Consequently, a blend of construction techniques, such as pile-supported decks, sand filling, and retaining walls, will be utilized to overcome these challenges.
In Umahi words:
“And so, there will be a combination of all kinds of construction methods, the deck on pile would be there, the sand filling would be there, the retaining walls would be there.
“So, it’s a very ambitious project, quite technical and highly rewarding.”
The second meeting, scheduled in two weeks, will focus on the business case study, allowing the project to progress to the design phase. Umahi noted that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Africa.
“So, the second meeting will come up in two weeks where the business case study will be exposed to us, and we will give them a letter to own the project and then to engage in the design.
“The Lagos-Port Harcourt-Calabar Coastal Highway is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa,”
The Significance and Environmental Aspects of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project.
Nicholas Rizk, the consultant representing Hitech Construction Company, underscored the appropriateness of the chosen construction techniques for a country as vast as Nigeria.
He stressed the project’s far-reaching impact, spanning various geographical terrains and delivering substantial benefits to nine states along its course.
This highway, when completed, will forge critical connections at both national and international scales, serving as an essential conduit linking the South West, South East, South-South, Niger Delta, and other regions.
Moreover, it will seamlessly integrate with the existing federal road network, fostering economic and social progress throughout the nation
In Rizk’s words: “We are connecting nine states and this road.
“In addition to the integration at the national level for Southwest and Southeast, South-South and Niger Delta, it connects with the Federal Roads going from Lagos to Sokoto.
“From Warri to Kaduna, from Port Harcourt to Kano-Maiduguri, and from Calabar to Maiduguri.
“So as the Minister mentioned, we have this coastal highway that is more or less 10 to 12 kilometres away from the shorelines to consider the issue of erosion and the sensitive environmental areas.”
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, as explained by Rizk, commences from Victoria Island near Eko Atlantic City and traverses through key points such as the Lekki Coastal Road, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the Dangote Refinery. It ultimately links Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, and culminates in Calabar. Additionally, Rizk outlined the project’s careful consideration of health, safety, and environmental concerns, with a special focus on regions involved in oil production.
IduwiniVoice recall that the Coastal Highway Project received traction over ten years ago when the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC embarked on and completed the Survey, and submitted the report to the Jonathan Administration, whose sketchy moves to concession the project to a consortium Chinese firms fisseled away with the change of regime.
It remains to be seen if the Tinubu Administration can muster an inroad into arguably one of the largest construction ventures across Africa.
- By Favour Bibaikefie
Labour Party’s former Presidential flag bearer, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, has officially declared his intention to run for the presidency again in 2027. Speaking during a live interactive session on X Space last Sunday, Obi pledged to serve only one tenure in office if elected, aligning with the conditions of any national coalition formed to rescue the country.
His spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Umar, followed up with a formal confirmation of Obi’s statement on Monday.
Obi clarified that his ambition is not driven by a desire for power but by a commitment to national transformation. He stated unequivocally: “If the coalition is one term, I will leave on May 28, 2031 – not even May 29. I am not desperate to be president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work.”
He underscored that any such coalition must be guided by principles of integrity, character, and accountability, rather than political compromise or personal ambition.
No Alliance With Atiku, Focus Remains on National Challenges
The former Anambra State Governor dismissed speculations of a potential Alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Obi stressed that his focus is not on political arrangements but on assembling a result-driven team capable of tackling the country’s pressing issues, particularly insecurity and economic hardship.
“If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians, count me out,” he asserted.
Vision: Stabilising Nigeria Within Two Years
Obi expressed confidence in his ability to bring stability to Nigeria within two years of assuming office. He pledged to prioritize key sectors such as security, education, and poverty reduction. He also vowed to run a clean administration, assuring that his family would be kept out of government business and contracts.
“To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty,” he said.
Criticism of Tinubu’s Foreign Trip Amid Crisis
During the session, Obi took a critical stance on President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to St. Lucia, describing it as disconnected from the nation’s current realities. He questioned the President’s leadership commitment amid ongoing security and economic challenges.
“You can’t build strong international relations when your domestic house is on fire. We’re losing lives in Niger, Benue, Zamfara and we’re gallivanting,” Obi lamented, adding that the President had not spent a single night outside Lagos in any Nigerian state since taking office.
No to Political Cross-Carpeting and Electoral Manipulation
Reaffirming his commitment to electoral reforms, Obi said he would champion credible elections and condemned the trend of elected politicians switching parties for personal gain.
He pledged a peaceful and transparent campaign, highlighting the importance of respecting voter decisions. He also restated his support for regional power rotation, noting his adherence to this principle while governing Anambra State.
In closing, Obi called for a compassionate and people-centered leadership approach, drawing from his own experiences of empathising with victims during crises in his home state.
With this declaration, Peter Obi sets the stage for what promises to be a defining moment in Nigeria’s 2027 electoral cycle.
Breaking
BREAKING: TINUBU SEEKS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVAL FOR US$21.5BN LOAN, NGN₦758BN DOMESTIC DEBT TO FUND KEY SECTORS
By: Favour Bibaikefie
Abuja – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly’s approval to secure a new round of multi-billion-dollar foreign and domestic loans aimed at supporting critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy and addressing longstanding pension obligations.
In a detailed letter sent to both chambers of the National Assembly, the President sought approval for an external borrowing plan totalling US$21.5 billion, in addition to EUR€2.19 billion, PRC¥15 billion, and a EUR€65 million grant.
The request is part of the Federal government’s 2022 – 2024 borrowing framework intended to fund major development initiatives.
Additionally, President Tinubu is asking for legislative endorsement to raise NGN₦757.9 billion through domestic bonds. According to the Presidency, these funds will be directed primarily toward offering federal government pension liabilities, especially accrued pension rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The proposed external loan, the government clarified, will be deployed across priority sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, job creation, water resources, and security. A statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance emphasized that the loan requests are consistent with Nigeria’s Midium-term Debt Strategy and will be responsibly managed to avoid placing undue burden on future administrations.
“This borrowing is not arbitrary, ” the statement said. “It is structured to support growth-driven projects across key economic areas and improve the living standards of Nigerians.”
Despite these assurances, critics and civil society groups have raised concerns over Nigeria’s growing public debt profile and the need for greater transparency, fiscal discipline, and measurable outcomes in loan utilization. Some have accused the government of pilling on debts without clear accountability mechanisms or demonstrable impact on productive sectors.
However, the government insists the borrowing will not increase Nigeria’s debt distress risk and that appropriate debt management strategies are in place.
The National Assembly is expected to deliberate on the requests in the coming days.
(c) IduwiniVoice
Assassination Fear: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Chooses 3 Successors, Skips His Own Son
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly handpicked three potential successors in case he is killed during Israel’s ongoing military campaign — a revelation that signals unprecedented urgency inside Tehran’s highest ranks.
According to an investigative report by The New York Times on Saturday, the 86-year-old Supreme Leader, now operating from a fortified bunker, privately named three senior clerics to assume power should he die during the conflict.