Minister of Works, David Umahi has defended the price of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying a regular kilometer costs N7.5 billion, about $5.5 million.
Umahi acknowledged this throughout an unique interview on Arise Television, the place he was requested to justify the excessive value of the undertaking.
The minister mentioned Section One of the freeway, which is 47.47 kilometers, costs N1.067 trillion.
According to him, the N7.5 billion per kilometer calculation was arrived at after dividing the entire value of the six-lane freeway to get the price of a regular two-lane federal freeway.
“A standard coastal road is going for N7.5 billion per kilometer of standard highway. However, this N7.5 billion includes all the fillings, shore protections, solar lighting throughout, and planting of trees,” Umahi mentioned.
The former Ebonyi State governor mentioned the value covers concrete pavement designed to final 100 years with out upkeep, shoreline safety, retaining partitions, photo voltaic lighting, flyovers, underpasses, and large sand filling of as much as 20 meters deep in some areas.
“This is an investment that the President is doing, and this is a road that is going to last for another hundred years,” he mentioned.
Recall that Umahi had earlier in April 2024 mentioned the street would value N4 billion per kilometer, a determine that has now virtually doubled, sparking criticism.
Umahi, nevertheless, insisted that the coastal freeway is completely different from a standard street due to its terrain and options.
He added that by November, motorists would have the ability to drive from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos via Sections One, Two and a part of Section Four into Ondo State.
