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FG Awards Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-PH Super, Coastal Highway Contracts To AEC, Hitech
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to embark on a 460km superhighway project that would cut travel hours from Lagos to Abuja from about 14 hours to four-and-a-half hours and the Lagos-Port Harcourt Coastal Highway.
While the Abuja-Lagos Superhighway project was awarded to Advanced Engineering Consultants (AEC), the Lagos-Port Harcourt Coastal Highway was given to Hitech Construction Company Limited.
According to the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, who addressed a press conference at Eko Signature Suites in Lagos on Saturday, September 23, the road would be built with concrete, not asphalt, and the construction through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) would be on a Build Operate and Transfer (BoT) arrangement with a consortium led by Advanced Engineering Consultants (AEC) under the chairmanship of Chief Kenny Martins.
Umahi announced that the highway running from Abuja through eight states to kiss the Fourth Mainland Bridge in Lagos will be completed in four years.
He said, “The President has approved that I should FastTrack this project.”
The minister said that at completion, an average vehicle traveling at 100km/hr could get to Lagos from Abuja in four and half hours.
“This is a journey that is more than 14 hours presently, so people found it hard to believe when this idea was introduced, but that is the Renewed Hope agenda of our divine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is what God has brought him to do. He is the last hope for Nigeria, no matter what people say… Things that couldn’t have been done are being done under this administration… Nobody can fix Nigeria like Tinubu.
“This project is going to be two lanes, but the two lanes will be two carriageways – 14 meters; the only carriageway that is equivalent to this is the Third Mainland Bridge where each carriageway is 14 meters. It’s going to be built on 275-millimeter thick concrete… The lifespan will be 100 years. Bridges will be built and there will be tolling points.”
Umahi, who was accompanied by top officials from the Federal Ministry of Works and contractors, said, “We are here to FastTrack the development of the Greenfield of the PPP development under a new program of the Federal Ministry of Works which is the HDMI Programme (Highway Development and Management Initiative).
“Under this programme, there are two kinds, we have the Greenfield, and we have the Brown Field. The Greenfield is the one we are doing with the Advanced Engineering Company. They identified the project; they came up to discuss it with us; we threw the idea to the market; we invited investors; they made proposals… They won the bid to further engage us.”
The superhighway will pass through the FCT, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos – Abuja, North-Central, and South-West.
Umahi said that the government would not put money into the project but would give the bid winners every support.
He commended the promoters of AEC, who he described as brilliant people.
“I’m very satisfied with their concept and what they have put in place. The next stage is to bring their business proposal so that we can negotiate on what the cost of the project will be. And then, they’ll go to the Ministry of Finance to negotiate the cost.
“We are building on concrete, so we can predict the cost; with asphalt, you cannot predict the cost. The cost of asphalt roads changes every month. Today, the dollar is almost a thousand naira. The oil price is almost $100 per barrel.
“Concrete roads are more durable and cheaper than asphalt. I’ve directed that the remaining jobs on all the ongoing projects that have not advanced up to 80percent must change to concrete.”
The minister also spoke on failed roads across the country putting the blame on civil servants.
He warned that any controller that allowed trucks to fall on the road under his supervision would go on indefinite suspension, and the director in that region would be recalled.
He said, “Hold civil servants responsible for failure of road projects. Civil servants in other parts of the country apart from Lagos stay in the office and issue certificates to contractors.
“I’ve inspected roads in South-West and South-East. I spent 14 hours traveling from Abuja to Benin. I had pains, and I was so happy having the pains because Nigerians are going through the pains on a daily basis.”
Umahi also blamed the failed road projects across the country on lack of supervision; “contractors took money and didn’t do the work. They constructed failed roads. Roads that could not stand three years. They could not even maintain the roads. Trucks are falling. Travelers pass through communities. People are being kidnapped. I went to Warri. I went to Bayelsa, the story is the same.
“In every contract, there’s provision to maintain the roads. If a contractor is greedy to take a project of 150km that should go to three contractors, he should be prepared to maintain it. I’ve created a platform where I have all the contractors and the directors inside. Everybody is back to work. It’s the directive of Mr. President. He said that he must not see vehicles falling on highways again. I will get whoever flouts the directive out of the way.
“I have just informed Mr President that in 30 days if no urgent attention is given to the road, nobody will pass from Bayelsa or Port Harcourt to Warri. And that is very dangerous. So, he directed that I should go and inspect the roads and bring comprehensive information on what should be done immediately.
“He is a man who listens. He’s in a hurry to solve people’s problems in this country. He’s very much in a hurry to change the story. From Bayelsa, I went to Port Harcourt, to Akwa Ibom, to Cross River, and from there I flew to Enugu yesterday evening by 6 o’clock to discuss this road matter with the governor of Enugu State.
“I’m also to reinspect the Third Mainland Bridge and start work on it immediately, and then discuss with the Ogun State governor on the HDMI.”
Fielding questions from reporters on challenges that PPP projects have been facing in Nigeria, Umahi said that things would be different this time.
“We will tie ourselves very well with irrevocable agreement. On the issue of Right of Way, they own the entire land until they recover the money invested. If the Federal Government reneges, they have to pluck their investment directly from the Federation Account.
“If the investment must work, it must not be subjected to political dynamism. It has to be a business venture. That’s why I like President Bola Tinubu. He inherited 18,000 km of roads, and 2,640 projects; there are still constituency projects that are over another 2,000 in number. So, you have over 64,664 Federal Government projects that are ongoing.
“He has not stopped any contractor. He wants to complete all those things. Certain leaders will say we want to do our own, that is gross irresponsibility.
“They (bid winners) are going to give me a letter of comfort; if they back out, they must pay us $10million. My coming here is at a cost, and nobody should waste our time.”
In his response, Chief Kenny Martins assured that the road would be the first of its kind with communication cyber cable, rail lines, and coastal areas.
“The road will be ICT complaint so that electronic vehicles can operate on the road; there will be all kinds of security and there will be solar lights, the whole 460kilometres of the road,” he said.
The minister also mentioned that the Federal Government is working to actualise another project, the Lagos-Port Harcourt Coastal Highway.
He said that Hitech Construction would fund the project under the PPP model.
Hitech is a division of the Chagoury Group, a business conglomerate in Lagos that oversaw the construction of the Lekki-Epe expressway and the Ajah flyover.
Umahi added that upon completion, the highway would have multiple spurs connecting major towns and cities, including a spur connecting Ogoja-Ikom-Cameroon Road.
“There will be a spur that will connect the proposed fourth mainland bridge in Lagos,” he said.
“It is also connected to the deep seaport road being constructed by Hitech, under the concrete technology and it is also connected at Lagos-Badagry to the proposed Lagos-Abidjan superhighway.”
He said there would also be multiple connections with roads leading to the northern parts of the country.
“There is a proposal for connection to Sokoto. I think about four to five connections to northern Nigeria,” he said.
Umahi described the project as a brainchild of President Tinubu, who asked him to also “fast track this project because it is going to be a catalyst towards the economic development of this country.
“Let me announce that it is under PPP. The Hitech Group is going to look for the money. They have already found the money and that is the good news because we don’t waste our time talking and holding meetings and wasting resources,” he said.
“We are engaging seriously because we have seen the financial capacity and capability of Hitech and this project is going to be delivered in phases.
“Any section that we complete, we will toll it, and then business and transportation will start.
“The right of way of this project is about a 100-meter corridor. There is provision for a rail line in the middle of the road which is about 20 meters.
“The road has four carriageways. Each of the service lanes is 10 meters wide. The main carriageway is 14 meters.”
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
