Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 01/Oct 19:50

Stakeholders hail Tinubu over Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway

Civil society groups, opposition politicians, and economic experts have applauded the Federal Government for the progress made on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.They gave the commendation in Lagos during an inspection tour of the project, where they said the quality of work so far justified President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure renewal.The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who led the tour, said the first section of the 750km road — from Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, to Eleko — would be completed by May 2026. He revealed that 35km had already been delivered, with 12km left to finish the segment.A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, said, “You cannot develop a nation without a long-term plan. You cannot sustain a long-term plan in a multi-party democracy unless you’re able to build consensus around development…”Chairman of Proshare Group, Olufemi Awoyemi, described the highway as a major test for financing large-scale infrastructure.He noted it would ease congestion and create alternative routes for cross-country travel.Declan Ihekaire, one of the civil society leaders on the tour, urged Nigerians to acknowledge progress when due. “We, as CSOs must not condemn every time. When we see where they are getting it right, we should talk so that we encourage them,” he said.Umahi stressed the importance of using concrete for durability and disclosed that work had also begun on the second stretch of the project, running from Eleko in Lagos to Ode-Omi in Ogun State. He further assured that updates on progress would be given regularly, while reiterating Tinubu’s vision to transform the nation’s infrastructure.