The Federal Government has expressed confidence in the timely delivery of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Cross River State, citing steady progress and the contractor, HITECH Construction Company’s, adherence to quality standards.
Assistant Chief Engineer with the Federal Ministry of Works and Supervisor for Section 3B of the project, Itam Patrick, said that about 4.5 kilometres of rigid pavement have been completed within the first year of construction.
The project, awarded in February last year with a 36-month completion timeline, is being executed using Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), a durable concrete road technology.
Patrick noted that ministry engineers are actively supervising the project to ensure compliance with specifications, adding that the quality of work done so far meets required standards.
He also commended the contractor for adhering to local content directives, revealing that about 80 per cent of the workforce comprises indigenes of host communities.
MEANWHILE, the Civic group Tracka has raised fresh concerns about transparency and accountability in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, more than a month after submitting a Freedom of Information request, which remains unanswered.
In a letter dated February 19, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Tracka, an initiative of BudgIT Foundation, requested detailed information under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The request, acknowledged by the ministry on March 2, 2026, sought clarity on the project’s procurement process, including justification for any selective or direct contracting methods. It also requested copies of approvals, bid documents, and evaluation reports, as well as the identities and ownership structures of contractors and subcontractors.
Tracka further demanded a full disclosure of the total project cost and its breakdown, funding sources, environmental and social impact assessments, compensation arrangements for affected communities, implementation timelines, and safeguards against cost overruns or conflicts of interest.
However, as of mid-April 2026, the group said it had not received a response.
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