The Federal Government has begun construction on the South-South section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway while suspending new road projects.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced that the Federal Government will not initiate any new road projects in 2025 due to a lack of funds.

He made this statement during a stakeholders’ meeting on the proposed alignment for section 3A – a 38km stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, held at the Transcorp Hotel in Calabar on Sunday, June 30.

The stakeholders’ engagement was a follow-up to a previous meeting held on Saturday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Umahi explained that the Federal Government would focus on inherited projects and the three legacy road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration.

The legacy projects include the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, a 1,000km road connecting Sokoto to Badagry, passing through seven states and linking to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway at Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos; the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700km road connecting Lagos State to Cross River State through eight states; and the Calabar-South East-North Central-Apo Abuja Superhighway, a 477km road connecting Calabar to Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states, terminating at Apo in Abuja.

Umahi explained that construction works at the Calabar end of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would commence in August.

He said, “We will not be embarking on any new road project in 2025. This is because of the paucity of funds. We would rather concentrate on inherited projects and the legacy projects of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. These projects are dear to the President and he is desirous of delivering on these projects.”

The minister also reiterated the ultimatum given to contractors working on government road projects: they must improve their performance or risk losing their contracts.

During the presentation of the routes for section 3A and the Trans-Africa Highway, which passes through Cross River, Ebonyi, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, Umahi expressed disappointment with the slow progress on the Akwa Ibom and Cross River-Calabar-Itu section, which was awarded to three contractors.

Reiterating his earlier ultimatum, Umahi said, “If Julius Berger (Plc) fails to return to the site at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued today (Sunday), we will terminate the contract. Sermatech Limited, an indigenous contractor, did a better job than Berger.

“Sustenance is based on the improvement of our roads. Contractors are playing tricks on our road construction; if we put one kobo in his hands he must give us an affidavit. The contractor must put his feet on the throttle. If you are climbing the hill, will you remove your leg from the throttle? No.”

The minister warned contractors that it is no longer ‘business as usual’ for those handling government projects, emphasizing that no amount of lobbying would save them if they fail to deliver.

Umahi reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to completing all inherited road projects and the three legacy road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He added that other projects related to the three legacy initiatives would be assessed to determine the progress made and what work remains to be done.

Umahi said “Construction will begin on the two sections of the road in Cross River State and one section in Akwa Ibom State simultaneously.

“After this stakeholders’ engagement, we get the design and start the procurement. We are very sure that in August, construction will start in this state.

“I will not allow construction to start only from Akwa Ibom, but ensure that construction starts in three sections –  two in Cross River and one in Akwa Ibom states, respectively.

“The projects are going to have a rail track; We started with the tracks in the the middle in section two, but we have redesigned it to have the tracks by the side.”

Umahi sought the support of relevant stakeholders in the state to ensure the smooth execution of the project.

The minister praised the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, for his cooperation with the Federal Government on the road projects.