A presidential directive has been given on the immediate design of the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway, Works Minister Dave Umahi said yesterday.
Umahi spoke after inspecting the end of Section One (Phase I) of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and its realignment in Lagos.
The minister said: “I’m happy that Mr. President has also directed me to start the immediate design of the Badagry-Sokoto Expressway.
“This one is a spur of the Coastal Highway and it is 1000 kilometres. We’ve started the design and I’m very sure that as soon as Federal Executive Council approves it, we will be starting at Sokoto side, which is the zero point.
“We also have another spur which is going to go from Enugu -Abakaliki-Ogoja going to Cameroon.
“So, we have that spur and it’s about 361 kilometres, going through Otukpo to Benue to Nasarawa and ends at Apo in Abuja.
“We are also going to be presenting it to Mr. President, and when this is done. Then the coastal routes as we promised, will go to circle the entire country.”
The minister said upon completion, the coastal road would connect the Southwest, Southsouth, Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral regions.
Umahi expressed strong belief in the significance of the coastal road project, which he said would be the first of its kind in Africa.
The minister said: “So, this will be the legacy that we’ve never seen in Africa, and I think that God has sent Mr. President to do this and he’s just doing it.
“He’s a man of courage and we are also learning courage following him.”
Demolition begins on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road RoW
The Federal Government promised to carry out the demolition of properties on the right of way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with minimal disruptions.
Stressing the importance of the approach, Umahi reassured that compensation for affected property owners will be paid without delays.
He gave the assurance in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Uchenna Orji, while flaging-off the demolition of affected properties on Section 1 of the 700-kiliometre highway being handled by Hitech Construction Company Ltd.
Expressing government’s concern for the well-being of the people, the minister assured that the demolition process would be carried out with a human face.
He urged the affected individuals to show understanding and see it as a sacrifice for the ultimate impact of the project on the economic prosperity of the nation.
The statement reads: “We are doing some minor adjustments, and our commitment is to stay within the coastline.
“When the initial demolition order was passed to all the affected investors, so to speak, I graciously extended the period to another seven days and yet another four days, and here we are because the project stopped because of the part of this demolition.