Umahi Inspects Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway.   The Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Nweze Umahi has inspected the construction of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway in Lagos recently. The superhighway shall be funded and constructed by HiTech Construction Company under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.   The Minister explained that upon completion, the coastal highway will go through to Lekki Deep Sea Port Road, then to Port Harcourt, to Calabar with two spurs, one of the spurs is under phase II going from a point along the coastal road to the ongoing Badagry - Sokoto Road and another spur too along the Ogoja axis of the Trans Sahara trade route.  The phase one he added will be about 650km which consists of two service lanes with four carriageways both sides and a provision for a rail line in the middle of the road.   “The highway shall have multiple spurs that will connect major towns and cities, including a spur connecting Ogoja-axis of the trans Sahara trade route. The phase one he added will be about 650km which will consist of two service lanes with four carriage ways on both sides with a rail line in the middle of the road” he said.   Umahi added that the project is going to be a major breakthrough under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has asked him to “fast track this project because it is going to be a catalyst towards the economic development of this country”.   The Minister pleaded with the Lagos State Government on the permission to acquire the Right of Way on the road corridor to prevent encroachment and possible disturbances during and after construction.   He said the project would promote tourism, have industrial clusters including hotels, factories, housing estates and several other facilities. “So, this is beautiful, it will promote tourism, have industrial clusters including hotels, factories, housing estates and several other facilities” he said.   Umahi disclosed that the highway is going to be built on concrete road pavement which he said will bring the concrete road construction to the next level and it is happening during this administration.   Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat stated that the project is of public interest, a laudable and a welcome development that will serve Nigeria and its citizens enormously.   He noted that the provision of right of way is the state’s responsibility and must be released for a sustainable road to be delivered for the Nigerian citizens. He admonished the general public to desist from building on right of way because all right of ways in the state has been gazetted by the state House of Assembly.   He thereafter expressed his satisfaction with the Federal Government on the construction of the Coastal Highway saying it will boost the economic growth of the country in general.   With the Honourable Minister at the inspection were the Director Highways Southwest, Engr. Adedamola Kuti, the Director Bridges, Engr. Awosanya, The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Engr. (Mrs.) Korede Kesha; and the Managing Director of HiTech Construction Company. ...

Federal Government Flags-Off Emergency Repairs at The Third Mainland Bridge Superstructure ..... Approves The Repair of Over 260 Roads Nationwide   1. The Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is set to make a historic mark in road Infrastructure revolution in Nigeria. This was revealed by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi, CON during the flag-off of the emergency repair of the Third Mainland bridge, Lagos on the 8th day of November, 2023. The Hon. Minister during the event reiterated the determination of the President to turn around the accumulated ugly conditions of the Nigerian roads particularly the Federal Highways.   2. Speaking on the essence of the emergency repair of the Third Mainland Bridge, the Hon. Minister said that the conditions of the bridge superstructure and other elements including the loops and ramps connecting the bridge were bad and required urgent maintenance to serve the road users better. " This is yet another milestone in the actualization of the Renewed Hope agenda of the Divine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration which among other things is aimed at the total repositioning of the road and bridge infrastructure in Nigeria and to bring succour to road users who have suffered the effects of the decayed infrastructure over the years,"   3. The Hon. Minister recalled that the immediate past administration had awarded a contract for the comprehensive repair of the loops and ramps connecting to the Third Mainland bridge at the total cost of N6,278,063585.58. But the Renewed Hope administration of Mr President upon coming on board observed that the intervention was for a limited scope as it would not address the problems created by the extra layers of asphalt on the bridge deck of about 150mm thickness that occurred as a result of previous overlays which constitute extra dead load on the bridge."   4. According to the Hon. Minister, "it therefore became imperative to expand the scope of works as awarded to accommodate the additional works and quantities of work items needed to restore the integrity and serviceability of this very important bridge" Hence, the need to expand the scope of the contract which is now "awarded to Messrs CCECC Nig Ltd in the sum of N21,047,430,431.71.   5. The Hon Minister who used the opportunity to thank the President of Nigeria for approving the repair of over 260 Federal Roads across the nation also reiterated his Ministry's commitment to quality and timely delivery of road and bridge infrastructure in Nigeria, pointing out that under his watch, the road users will not suffer discomfort and inconveniences because of road repair. He maintained that his Ministry’s target is to ameliorate the sufferings of road users and give them the best comfort anyone can get in advanced countries of the world. On his own part, the Lagos State Governor who was represented by his Deputy, His Excellency, Dr Femi Hamzat assured the Hon Minister of Works of a robust partnership in the road revolution agenda of Federal Government, as far as Lagos State is concerned. He praised the initiative of the Federal Government in tackling the deficiencies in road Infrastructure across the nation.  The Governor also assured road users of adequate traffic management within Lagos State and adequate traffic plan during the festivities. The Governor thereafter performed the flag-off ceremony at the instance of the Hon. Minister of Works.   6. Repair works on the four ramps on the Third Mainland bridge started in earnest on the 6th day of November,2023 and is expected to be completed on or before 13th December,2023. The work of the major carriageway of the bridge will commence on 15th January, 2023. ...

Works Minister Inspects Lagos Bridges Minister of Works Engr. David Nweze Umahi was on a working visit to Third Mainland, Carter, Falomo, Iddo, Eko, Marina and Iganmu Bridges in Lagos State.   The Minister inspected the bridges alongside some Directors in the Ministry with contractors on Saturday 28th, October 2023.   Umahi, while briefing the Press, pointed out problems on the Third Mainland Bridge which was built in two sections Sixty years ago by an Italian Company and Julius Berger.   He said the reason for deflection on the bridge was lack of maintenance from the national level, other than the last administration where intervention came from and the State Government especially when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in office.   The Minister said due to the technicality of the job on Eko Bridge where the Bridge deck would be open, equipment worth one point two million Euros would be imported into the Country that would be used in maintaining the aspect of the bridge.   He commended the last administration's work on the bridge, the bridge suffered two problems. " Eko Bridge suffered two problems such as lack of maintenance, and the bearings eating up, lots of the pair gaps have serious issues but the last administration did a very good and wonderful work."   "Work is on going, it will finish in 2024 because we are pushing for increase in the number of workers and equipment to site, they are doing a beautiful work”.    Umahi said "Without Eko Bridge, we will not have any truck coming into Island so that is our saviour."   Engr. Umahi, thanked the President and the National Assembly for looking at Infrastructure strategically in Lagos State, the financial capital of the country which has lots of national infrastructure that tremendously add to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) therefore it cannot be neglected. He added.   The works Minister congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima on their victory at the supreme court  and urged the  leaders in the country to put the nation ahead of all interest  and the region. ...