By CHRISTIAN NJOKU

Gift Johnbull, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement, South-South, has called on residents, to support the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

She described the project as critical to regional development.

The presidential aide made the call on Tuesday in Calabar during a tour of the Cross River Section 3B and Akwa Ibom section 3A of the project with youths, under the auspices of “Community of Comrades.”

She urged residents to assess the project firsthand, rather than rely on negative narratives.

According to her, the participants’ visit is a demonstration of patriotism and responsible citizenship.

The presidential aide noted that the coastal highway would boost trade and commerce, adding that the Niger Delta deserved durable road infrastructure, to support economic growth.

“The South-South region’s poor road conditions is due to inadequate political commitment and I praise President Bola Tinubu, the Works Minister, Mr Dave Umahi, and the contractor, Hitech, for advancing concrete road technology,” she said.

Johnbull cited the East-West Road, which she said had experienced years of delays, in spite of multiple contractors, arguing that improved technology and political will, could deliver lasting infrastructure.

She then called on residents to reject criticism that could undermine the project, while urging them to seek firsthand information and support the government’s development agenda.

Meanwhile, Mr Vincent Okuduwa, Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, explained that approximately nine kilometres of the Section 3A, had been completed to Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) stage.

He noted that about six kilometers of the section 3B, had already been completed.

Okuduwa who represents Akwa Ibom, said the Section 3A was 18 per cent completed, adding that the construction involved site clearance, removal of unsuitable materials, approved soil layers and dredged sand in swampy areas.

He dismissed reports that the coastal highway had been abandoned or diverted from its original alignment, clarifying that an additional connection to the East-West Road, did not cancel the project.

“About 90 per cent of compensation claims for affected property owners in Akwa Ibom had been paid, while outstanding payments involved areas affected by proposed realignments,” he said.

He noted that the project covered 41 kilometres in Akwa Ibom and 30 kilometres in Cross River, bringing the combined length across both states to 71 kilometres.

Mr Kelvin Eyam, Convener of the Community Comrades, South-South, said the group organised the tour to verify the project’s progress, following negative reports about its implementation.

Eyam said the group was impressed by the construction activities and employment opportunities created, pledging its support for President Tinubu and Umahi to ensure the project’s successful delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of four legacy projects of the Tinubu administration, started in March 2024.

The highway was designed to connect nine coastal states – Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, structured across multiple simultaneous work fronts. (NAN)