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By Godwin Chukwumaechi
Youths of the Niger Delta, under the auspices of Niger Delta Youths Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP), has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend the N1.8 trillion Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
The coalition expressed concern of potential duplication of efforts and financial waste.
The Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, spanning over 750 kilometers and featuring 160 bridges connecting the entire Niger Delta with Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State, was originally conceived by the Federal Government, with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) entrusted to oversee its development.
The NDDC has been reportedly invested over N25 billion since 2014 in feasibility studies, project scope assessments, and detailed technical studies.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt and jointly signed by Pastor Jude Teidor, national president of NDYCPP, and George Okitikpi, national secretary, the coalition commended President Tinubu’s commitment to national development but raised concerns over “recent development about the project.”
The group argued that the Federal Ministry of Works, under the leadership of Engineer David Umahi, was pursuing negotiations for new construction contracts on the East-West Coastal Road without involving the NDDC.
It raised suspicions on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement that “would toll the road for years, potentially rendering useless efforts made so far on the project.”
They urged President Tinubu to take the following actions: “Direct the Federal Ministry of Works to involve the NDDC in further negotiations with Hitech Construction Company on the project and mandate the House of Representatives Committee on Works to closely monitor developments on the road project within four weeks”.
The NDYCPP stakeholders emphasized the importance of harmonizing efforts between the NDDC and the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that their actions align with the existing plans for the project.
They further expressed confidence that these steps could transform the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project into a successful example of effective governance and collaboration for the benefit of all Nigerians.
