A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has praised the pace of work on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway after joining the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, on an inspection of ongoing construction across Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Showunmi, who issued a detailed statement on the visit, said the delegation—which included senators, members of the House of Representatives, presidential aides and political leaders—witnessed “unprecedented activity” on the project, describing the site as “a synchronised environment where men and machines worked with purpose.”
One of the most dramatic moments of the tour, according to Showunmi, occurred when Umahi abruptly terminated the contract of a construction firm over alleged incompetence.
Quoting the Minister, he said Umahi declared:
“I hereby terminate this contract and reassign it to another company with immediate effect. The current contractor cannot deliver the required standard.”
Showunmi noted that while the contractor appeared visibly shaken, the decision underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to meet deadlines and eliminate inefficiency.
He added that the minister carried out several stops along Ikot Ekpene and adjoining corridors, issuing direct instructions to supervisors, some of whom were ordered to relocate permanently to their sites to take advantage of the dry season.
“Umahi repeatedly demanded higher standards. Diagrams were checked at every point to ensure exact compliance with approved designs,” Showunmi said.
According to him, the delegation’s arrival in Calabar revealed completed stretches of concrete pavement that signaled steady progress on the massive coastal project.
“My heart burst with joy when we reached the Calabar section and saw concrete pavement already laid,” he wrote. “We saw the beginning, the middle, and now the emerging end.”
Despite being a leading opposition voice, Showunmi commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a “bold infrastructural vision,” adding that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway would become a generational legacy.
“From Awolowo to Azikiwe, and from Obasanjo to Babangida, each era delivered something lasting. This project is the transformative contribution of President Tinubu,” he said.
He argued that the road, expected to stretch over 700 kilometres, would serve as a major economic corridor and a catalyst for national development.
Showunmi said difficult terrains along the route were being addressed through palliatives and diversions ordered by the minister to ease movement for motorists.
He stressed that Nigeria must not “sit idle while other nations advance,” adding that the project represented a break from the country’s history of abandoned infrastructure.
“The sun will shine again for Nigeria. We are already seeing the breaking of a new dawn,” he said.
The PDP chieftain urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum, saying the project “will stand, the legacy will endure, and Nigeria will rise.”
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