Sanwo-Olu straight-faced as Umahi asks Lagos to fund coastal highway drainages, service lanes

Dave Umahi, minister of works, says the Lagos state government has to make financial contribution towards the construction of service lanes and drainage infrastructure along the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

Speaking on Sunday during a press conference and stakeholders engagement meeting, Umahi said the federal and state governments must work together to address infrastructure challenges along the highway.

Addressing Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, who appeared indifferent to the minister’s comment, Umahi said the governor’s facial expression will not stop him from providing funding.

“I can see the governor’s face has changed. But, governor, there is no amount of changing face that will not make you to bring money,” Umahi said.

“You have to bring money to do the service lanes and also to do the drainage, you know, corridor.”

Umahi said the responsibilities surrounding the project should not be viewed strictly through the lens of federal or state jurisdiction, stressing the need for both levels of government to collaborate.

“You know, government is government, so we cannot say this is state, this is federal. But we must join hands together, governor, to solve this problem for the sake of our people,” Umahi said.

The minister also expressed concern over illegal occupation and vandalism along completed sections of the highway.

He said some people had removed blocks and fencing materials and cut rods installed along the highway.

Umahi called for stricter enforcement against the use of the coastal highway by commercial motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and illegal occupants.

He said the federal government had deployed 40 coastal guards to the first section of the project, comprising 20 personnel for day operations and 20 for night operations.

According to him, the guards are expected to ensure that the highway is not used by motorcycles, tricycles or for illegal activities.

Umahi said the state government must also prevent the highway from becoming an area of informal settlement.

“I want to tell the comptroller of Lagos that this coastal guard is not cosmetic. They are in for serious business,” he said.

“I’ve seen some of them in their dressing that doesn’t connote seriousness. I’ve seen some of them that think it’s another empowerment. This is employment.”

The minister said lot 1 of the highway had been completed, while lot 2 is over 80 percent completed.

He also said construction had progressed in Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ogun states, while work is expected to continue in other parts of the coastal corridor.

Umahi said the project remains important to the federal government’s development agenda and dismissed criticisms suggesting that the highway could not be completed. (TheCable)