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Lagos-Calabar coastal road project to cost ₦4bn per kilometre

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Umahi says the current design of the road under construction is different from its original design which was eight lanes without train tracks.

The construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has started from Victoria Island in Lagos. [Abiodun Bello/X]

The construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has started from Victoria Island in Lagos.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier criticised the project, alleging that the Federal Government planned to spend ₦8bn on each kilometre of the 700 km road project.

Atiku also raised questions on why President Bola Tinubu awarded the contract to his ally, Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding.

Reacting to this, Umahi in a statement on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, said Atiku lacked an understanding of figures, adding that he found the ex-VP’s comment degrading.

Also, while appearing as a guest on the Television Continental on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the minister dismissed Atiku’s claim on the cost of the project.

He explained that the current design of the road under construction is different from its original design which according to him was eight lanes without train tracks.

“The coastal road we are constructing has a total of 10 lanes, you know, not only that it has a total of 10 lanes, it also have what we called shoulders. And the total shoulders can be put at about 23 metres. So when you put the total concrete pavement we are doing, it’s about 59 metres. When you put the total flexible pavement that he quoted it’s about 23 metres,” Umahi said.

And so when you run the figures, you now find out that under his calculation, it is giving you about over ₦19bn per kilometre. Now if you divide it by the 23 kilometres that they are doing, it is about 2.225 times a standard superhighway carriageway, which is ₦11.55bn. Whereas what we are doing, if you divide it, you get ₦5.167bn, So when you now divide using our 1.067, you get about ₦4bn/km.

“If you go back to what he has quoted, you will get over ₦8bn. So using concrete, which should be more expensive because of the kind of terrain we have, and using flexible pavement, which shouldn’t stand the coastal route, you will find out that our cost is ₦4bn instead of the ₦8bn claimed by the former vice president.”

The former Governor of Ebonyi State disclosed that Hitech Construction would fund the project under the Public-Private Partnership model.

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UPDATE: Four-storey building collapses in Lagos (Photos)

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A four-storey building has collapsed in Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos, with occupants trapped, and some feared dead.

Panic gripped residents when the uncompleted building suddenly collapsed on Saturday.

The building houses the popular Equal Right Restaurant.

The incident happened at about 11a.m., today.

As of press time, men of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, as well as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, who had been contacted have arrived at the scene.

See photos below:

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BREAKING: Many feared trapped, as Building collapses in Ojodu Lagos

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An unspecific number of people are believed to be trapped under an uncompleted storey building which collapsed in Lagos.

The building housing Equal Rights restaurant located at Oremeta Street, Ojodu Lagos, went down on Saturday morning.

It is believed, however, that some people are still trapped underneath the rubble.

Details later….

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Crime

Police rescue 10 kidnapped University of Benin students

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Edo State Police Command says it has rescued 10 University of Benin, UNIBEN, students abducted by suspected kidnappers at Ofosu area along the Benin-Ore expressway.

It was gathered that the students were on their way to Babcock University for Annual GYC Africa Conference when they were kidnapped on April 16 at the community bordering Edo and Ondo States.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Moses Yamu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen.

Yamu said the rescued students are eight males and two females.

He said during the rescue operation, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while other escaped with bullet wounds.

He also disclosed that one of the Police officers, an Inspector sustained gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

The statement read: “The Command wishes to update the general public of the unfortunate kidnap of some students who were on their way to Babcock University for Annual GYC Africa Conference on 16/04/2025 at a location bordering Edo and Ondo States.

“On receipt of this information, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, immediately deployed operatives of the Ohosu Division, IRT, tactical teams alongside vigilantes and hunters into the bushes for possible rescue of the victims and arrest of suspects.

“During the operation, operatives engaged in a gun duel with these kidnappers. In the process, one of the kidnappers was neutralised, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

“The operatives were cautious to avoid collateral damages as the kidnappers used the victims as human shields. Unfortunately, an Inspector of Police sustained a gunshot injury and is currently responding to treatment.

“This rescue effort eventually paid off as the ten (10) kidnapped students comprising eight (8) male and (2) females were released due to intense pressure mounted on them.”

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