Obi faults work on Lagos-Calabar highway amid protests

WADS, NIWA chart path to successful project
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for going on with the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project in defiance of public outcry.

Obi spoke just as the Chairman of Waterways Assets Development Services (WADS) Limited, Elias Fidelis Amago, highlighted critical issues that must be addressed to achieve a successful Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

Obi expressed displeasure that the government was embarking on a project threatening jobs at a time of rampant unemployment.

He said it was not too late to discontinue the project, stressing that national challenges such as insecurity, poverty, poor healthcare, and education should pre-occupy the Federal Government’s attention.

Obi described the reported demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project as insensitive and heart-wrenching.

He lamented that livelihoods were being wiped away, lifetime investments wasted, and jobs disappearing as a result of the demolition.

In a post on his X handle, yesterday, the former Anambra State Governor said: “Contrary to reason and the necessity for compassion in public policy, the Federal Government has commenced the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

He added: “It’s time to question the rationale and timing of this and similar projects. The nation is in its worst economic state in history, with poverty and hunger spreading. The basic necessities of life are beyond reach for most Nigerians.

“The urgent necessities are the nationwide security, poverty eradication, healthcare, and education, especially for the poor and underprivileged. It’s not too la

“We cannot afford another expensive abandoned project. Nigeria’s urgent development needs are more real and

WADS Chairman, Amago, noted that the project, aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities along Nigeria’s coastline, would succeed if certain measures were taken.

Amago, an expert in civil engineering structures in marine environments, said the measures include detailed assessments of natural flood plains, geomorphological and geotechnical investigations, analysis of flood and wave characteristics, and ensuring adequate headroom clearance for bridges.

He said the construction plan would also require the installation of expansion joints, a minimum of 3.5 metres of subgrade fill above the soil grade, and the inclusion of weep-holes to manage water flow during flooding.

Amago warned that neglecting these essential checks could lead to seasonal flooding, rapid degradation of road structures, and misalignment of the road surface, potentially crippling the infrastructure’s longevity and functionality.

The General Manager, Area Offices Coordination at NIWA, Tammy Fiberesima, emphasised that the checks and considerations would enable the project, once completed, to not only meet its technical specifications but also its performance targets and sustainability objectives.