The Joint Committees on Works of the National Assembly in Nigeria, have expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.
The committee described the highway as one of the most important legacy projects of the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking to journalists after an inspection of the terminal point of the coastal road in Awi, Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State, southern Nigeria, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akinola Alabi said the visit was part of the legislature’s constitutional oversight function to ensure funds released for the project were judiciously used.
Alabi, who was in company of other members of the committees said, “we are carrying out our constitutional duty of overseeing the works being done by the Ministry of Works.
“This coastal road is very important to the Nigerian Government and to President Tinubu. We have been to the Lagos end a couple of times, and it is exciting to finally see where it terminates here in Cross River,” the Chairman said.
He also commended the contractor, HITECH Construction Company, for what he described as quality delivery, noting that the firm had already demonstrated excellence on the Lagos axis of the road.
“HITECH did a wonderful job on the Lagos end of the project, and we trust they will extend the same quality here,” he said.
Similarly, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Rufai Hanga, praised the progress of work on the coastal road, noting that it was going to transform the region.
Hanga said, “when I was here before, the only way out of Calabar was through Ikom and Ogoja road to northern Nigeria. But with this road, you can travel from here to Lagos freely and quickly. I doubted the project before, but I have seen it now — a wonderful job is being done here.”
Boost Commercial Value
Also speaking, the Senator representing the Southern Senatorial district of Cross River State, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, expressed appreciation to the joint committees for their visit and oversight commitment.
Ekenyong noted that the project was already improving local economic prospects,.
He said; “even at this early stage, land value in surrounding areas is appreciating. This road will reduce travel time between Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Lagos as well as bring immense economic benefits.”
Ekenyong urged the host communities in Akamkpa, Odukpani and other areas to support the ongoing work, saying “this project will bring jobs, commerce and growth. It is an pextremely beneficial project for our people and we must all join hands to see it succeed.”
In the same vein, the Federal Controller, Works, in Cross River State, Yinka Onafuye assured that the Ministry of Works under the supervision of Dr. David Umeahi was poised to perform its constitutional role for timely completion of the coastal highway project.
“I have a well equipped and functional quality control department that would ensure quality of the project. We also have enough and we’ll trained engineers that would help in supervision of this coastal highway and other projects in Cross River,” Onafuye stated.
He urged the people of Cross River State especially the host communities to exercise patience and collaborate with the Ministry, adding that “the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is coming to fulfilment. He will give us enough time to actualise the project.”