The Federal Government has tasked Hi-tech Construction Company Limited, the contractor handling section one of the Lagos-Badagry Coastal Highway to ensure speedy completion of the project.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, who led officials of the ministry on Day-two of tour to projects in Lagos State, said this was necessary to ensure its commissioning on or before May 29.

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring that the project conceived 27 years ago is fast becoming a reality.

Umahi added that the section would decongest the Apapa Wharf and solve the problem of the shallow draft at the Apapa Port.

According to him, the project, particularly section one would decongest the entire corridor of Lagos State.

He regretted that the project was being slowed down due to a refuse dump of over eight kilometers.

“We encountered a section of over eight kilometers that had refuse dump that happened in the past 20 to 30 years.

“The question people would ask is if we didn’t do soil test before? We did, but to save people’s property we had to reroute and do another soil test where we discovered we needed to remove those refuse to a depth of 10 meters, fill it back to the existing ground level and put the additional height.

“So we had to slow them down. So as to achieve the desired consolidation.

“What we want to aim at is to commission the first 30 kilometers of this coastal highway phase one on or before May 29, this year.”

Umahi acknowledged that they are currently trying to resolve a challenge where a house owner has refused to evacuate so the project can go through, stressing that talks are ongoing to resolve it.

He added that on Sunday, there would be a stakeholders’ engagement, where anyone with an issue on section one and two can attend so that they can be resolved.

Speaking, Federal Comptroller of Works Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, said the contractors are moving speedily but urged them to do more.

She added that sand filling is ongoing on all the alignments from 0 to 47 kilometers with just four kilometers yet to be filled.

Managing Director, Hi-tech Construction Company Limited, Dany Abboud, said that they would try their best to work day and night to deliver the project.

He pledged Hitech’s commitment to quality construction and its commitment to working during the day and at night to meet the delivery deadline.

He also tasked the Department of Design and Hi-tech to conclude the final design of sections one and two, incorporating all the additional work.

Director of Highway Projects and Design, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr Bede Obioha, expressed commitment to delivering the project and working in partnership with the contractor and consultants to resolve all challenges.

Meanwhile, the minister has assured that construction on Sections 3A and 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, located in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, respectively, will begin by the first week of March.

He described the project as a significant investment with multiple benefits.

According to him, there would be train tracks between the carriageways and solar lights for carbon credits.

The project, he said, would be done with reinforced concrete pavement (275mm thick with 20mm rods) with low emissions, and also generate carbon credits.

Umahi added that there would be cable channels and windmill energy, providing free energy to nearby communities.

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