The African Development Bank (AfDB) yesterday reassured Nigeria of its commitment to funding the construction of some sections of the Coastal and Trans-Saharan highways.
The 700-kilometre coastal roads will run from Lagos to Calabar in Cross River State while the trans-Sahara will link Ogoja, also in Cross River to Cameroon.
At its February 26 meeting, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N1.067 trillion for the first phase of the coastal highway.
The phase covers 47.47 kilometres of the dual-carriageway made up of five lanes on each side and a train track in the middle.
AfDB Director, Infrastructure and Urban Development, Mike Salawou, who led a delegation to Works Minister Dave Umahi in Abuja, said the continental bank would be delighted to see the realisation of the projects.
Salawou explained that since AfDB has a mandate to contribute to the economic and social developments of its member states, it was prepared to partner Nigeria by providing technical and financial support for the development of its road infrastructure.
He said: “ We are ready to assist Nigeria. To make it easy for us, we need to have studies and make sure we support you fully on the execution of these projects.
“The dualisation of the road between Nigeria and Cameroon will foster regional integration between the two countries because I believe Nigeria is Cameroon’s number one trade partner.
“We need to reinforce the modernised infrastructure there.”
Umahi, according to his chief press secretary, Uchenna Orji, told the AfDB team that the projects aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s plan to bolster Nigeria’s economic prospects and facilitate transnational investments.
The minister added that opportunities for investment in infrastructure development abound along the coastal and Trans-Sahara routes.
He said: “The coastal road is 700 kilometres. That is phase one and it is running from Lagos through Ogun State to Ondo State, passing through the coastal states of Delta, Bayelsa, Port Harcourt, and Akwa Ibom, and ending in Cross River.
“We have spores to the Ogoja road, the one you did, the African Trans-Sahara road that is going to Cameroon.
“We are sectioning the roads. Just last week, we awarded section one, phase one, and phase one is 47.47 kilometres. It’s already been awarded to Hi-tech Construction Limited.
“We have phase two, which is about 57 kilometres, taking us from the end of phase one. Phase one ends at Lekki Peninsula. It takes us from Ahmadu Bello Way to Lekki Deep Seaport. Phase two takes us to the boundary between Ogun State and Ondo State.
“That’s about 57 kilometres. It’s going to be available for several funders under the lead investor, that’s Hi-tech Construction Nigeria Limited.
“So, that is available and when the discussion comes up, then there will be a need for us to meet with Hi-tech and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (Wale Edun).”
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