By Asuquo Cletus
As part of its efforts to actualize the legacy projects under President Bola Tinubuโs Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has officially flagged off the construction of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The project, designated as Project 8784, is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Works and is being executed by Hitech Construction Company Limited. The highway will connect Lagos to Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, extending access to other states across the South-South and South-East regions.
Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony on Monday in Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, who represented President Bola Tinubu, described the Coastal Highway as the hub of economic activities for the region.
Governor Otu noted that the road, designed to enhance national connectivity, will traverse several communities in Cross River State, including Awi, Njahasang, Oduyama, Ikot Okon Akiba, Obot Ekpo, Atan Okoyong, Ekemikpon, Mikpara Otop, Kaifa, Nduoduo, Oboroko, Esuk Ekom, Nkita, and Ekong Atan Oku, before linking with the Calabar River Bridge to Akwa Ibom State.
He stated:”It will be recalled that when Calabar was the seat of the defunct Southern Fraternity, the city was the hub of transatlantic trade, conducted primarily through maritime routes.
“With this ambitious construction of the Coastal Highway, Calabar’s historic status will be reaffirmed as a key economic gateway โ with access by land, air, and sea.
“For some, the highway may be seen as just an impressive road infrastructure, but for us in Cross River, it is an economic enabler, a catalyst for job creation, a link for intra and inter-regional integration, and a platform for cultural exchange.
With the recent groundbreaking of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in the state, this highway will provide seamless evacuation routes for products, connecting them to both national and international markets.”
He called on residents and citizens of Cross River to seize the economic opportunities presented by the Coastal Highway, encouraging them to reawaken their entrepreneurial spirit. He added that the state government would continue to create an enabling environment for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises to thrive.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Works emphasized the federal government’s commitment to completing the highway within a few years. He stated that the project will significantly boost Nigeriaโs national road infrastructure, reduce congestion, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
He added: “This road will serve as a strategic evacuation corridor and aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. It is more than a road project โ it is a transformative investment for economic growth and sustainable development in the region.
I welcome open debate from anyone questioning the project’s cost-effectiveness or value. I take full responsibility for the costing, alignment, and selection of contractors. Leave the president out of it โ we will deliver this road in record time.”
The event was attended by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo; Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Peter Odey; Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works; senators, commissioners, and other top government officials.
