Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
As part of the transformational roadmap and inclusive road infrastructure revolution of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency,Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Honourable Minister of Works,Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has unveiled a 100-km stretch of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway graciously approved by President Tinubu to pass through Edo State which was originally not in the alignment for the coastal highway project. This was contained in a statement signed by Hon.Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works.
The Honourable Minister announced this approval of Mr. President during the State Independence galanite held at the State Villa,Benin City on 1st October 2025. He said, “But then, the coastal road was first dreamt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 47 years back. He contacted Governors who were in office with him, but unfortunately, the project could not take off. But then, the route was made known, but unfortunately, the route did not pass through Edo State, very sad. And when you hear 700 kilometres, and today you hear 750 kilometres, you ask yourself where is the difference coming from, the difference is coming from here because a miracle Governor appeared on the State”. He further said, “The President called me and said, ‘This project must pass from Lagos to Ogun, Ondo,Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and to Cross River. And that is why we are here. Your Excellency, the President has given you 100 kilometres by 2 of the coastal highway”
He commended the government and people of Edo State for their tremendous support to Mr. President and their steadfastness to the values of his Renewed Hope agenda. He assured them of the commitment of Mr. President to quality and timely delivery of inherited ongoing projects in the State,despite frightening infrastructural and funding defits inherited from previous administrations. He also commended the State Governor for accepting to intervene on some critical sections of Benin-Sapele-Warri road, which had been a deathtrap to motorists. He noted and commended the level of work so far done by the contractor handling one of the sections,CBC. “So I want to thank you very very highly, Your Excellency, for this intervention, and I want to thank CBC for a very good quality work we have seen, but, re-mobilize to this place, and the controller must be giving me photographs of work done everyday and we have to do more work at night.
On his part, the Governor of Edo State,His Excellency Sen. Monday Okpebholo thanked the President of Nigeria for including his State in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and for all the improvements on the federal roads in the State since his administration came on board. He noted the gesture as a manifestation of the extraordinary love of the President to the people of Edo State. He tasked his people on the need to champion the cause of Mr. President’s re-election come 2027.
He also thanked the Honourable Minister for the new innovation to road construction, which he said would guarantee quality and value for money. He equally commended him for his commitment and for always responding any time his attention is called to the infrastructural needs of Edo State.
He reiterated the desire of his administration to change the narrative in infrastructural development in the State. _Few days ago, I came to this axis on my way back, and what I saw almost made me weap. Knowing the number of vehicles that were on this road, trailers that fell, and I felt it shouldn’t be so. The President is trying, and whoever is criticizing the President doesn’t know what they’re doing.
However, criticism is also good because it serves as a wake-up call for all of us. He further said, “I invited you because of this road; it’s terribly bad. If I do my part and you do your part, no one will criticize our President. That’s the main reason I called you here. Our people are crying out for this road to be fixed. For us to earn more votes, we need to do something about this place, whether it’s the Federal Government or Edo State. The Benin people use this road the most, and they can’t come out and go to work or come back from work without struggling. That’s why we need to fix this road so that it will be motorable. This is the essence of inviting you here.” he also added.
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