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Calabar Coastal Highway: Minister, Stakeholders Visit Progress on Akwa Ibom, Cross River Sections
The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders in the Nigeria project have paid a working visit to Sections 3A and 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Biztellers reports that they made the visit on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Recall that Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Company is handling the 71.4-kilometre segment, part of the 750-kilometre highway, flagged off in April, 2025.
Engr. Umahi praised the contractor for maintaining quality standards, utilising advanced equipment, and employing skilled workers. He also commended them for completing and commissioning Section I, Phase I (Ahmadu Bello Way-Eleko Village) in Lagos State, in June 2025, ahead of schedule, with the ceremony presided over by the President, His Excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.
He urged them to replicate this performance on Sections 3A and 3B, directing that construction should proceed both during the day and at night.
The Minister stated, “The God that brought His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to undertake this courageous project is still on the Throne and will sustain him to complete it, setting the country on the path of greatness.” He highlighted that features such as relief stations, solar lighting, and CCTV cameras will be included along the highway, with emergency response times not exceeding 10 minutes.
He encouraged the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, and indeed all Nigerians, to support Mr. President in realising his 27-year-old dream of building a Coastal Highway, similar to those in other countries with coastlines. “He is the actualiser of dreams, including that of former President Shehu Shagari of blessed memory, who about 47 years ago envisioned constructing the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and the colonial-era 465-kilometre Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Kogi-Abuja, the Trans-Saharan Highway, which connects with the fourth Legacy Project at Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe. What more can we expect from a visionary leader?”
The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Dany Aboud, expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity and assured the Minister that they would work day and night, deploying more personnel and resources. He pledged that construction on both segments would be completed within the 36-month contract period.
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On behalf of the Members and leadership of the National Assembly, Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Sen. Mpigi Barinada, commended the quality of the work. He urged Nigerians to appreciate the significant earthwork involved, especially given the swampy terrain, which justifies the project’s huge capital outlay. He assured the public that they will get value for their money and reaffirmed the partnership between the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Works to realise the President’s vision.
The newly deployed Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, who previously served as Director of Procurement at the Ministry, emphasised, “the quality of work is very high, quite high. We are very confident that, with the contractor’s commitment and the Minister’s leadership, this project can be completed on time, making Nigerians proud.”
Earlier, the Acting Director, Highways (Bridge and Design), Engr. Musa Sa’idu, and the Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Vincent Okoruwa, briefed the Minister on progress. They confirmed that the contractor is adhering to the approved design and that there are no obstacles to timely completion. Engr. Sa’idu noted the use of grade 40 concrete with Y20 by Y16 reinforcement at 500-metre intervals, adding, “When finished, it will outlive all of us.”
Additionally, leaders from the PDP, ADC, and Action Alliance, set aside party differences to commend the contractor, the Ministry, and the President for spearheading this infrastructure revival. They opined that once something good is happening, it should be pointed out and appreciated by all well-meaning citizens.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South South Zone, Ms. Gift Johnbull, lauded the project, emphasising that “it is about the people, which is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is hinged upon.” She highlighted that completed projects will enable farmers like Mrs. Odeh or Mr. Effiong to transport their yam, palm oil, garri, and other commodities to markets in Lagos, thereby creating more wealth. She describes the project as a generational game changer.
On his way to Calabar from Uyo, the Minister also inspected ongoing work on the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road project, which includes a spur to Ididep Itam and Ikot Ekpene. He expressed concern over the slow progress by one of the contractors, Messrs Raycon and Company (Nigeria) Limited, on a 9.7-kilometre section. The contractor’s claim of not receiving mobilisation funds was rejected, with the Minister reminding him that the Ministry’s policy requires contractors to report to the site and achieve a reasonable level of work certified before mobilisation funds are released.
Based on this, the Minister announced the contract’s termination and directed the Federal Controller of Works in Akwa Ibom to issue a stop-work order. He also instructed a detailed assessment of the work completed to facilitate payment. Furthermore, he ordered Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Company to take over the project on an emergency procurement basis, assuring road users that it would be completed within two months.
The Nigeria Police Force has presented insurance benefit cheques worth ₦9.797m to the families and beneficiaries of police officers who died in the line of duty in Ekiti State.
The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Michael Falade, presented the cheques on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.
According to a statement made available on Wednesday, Falade said the payment reflected the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the welfare of its personnel and the families they leave behind.
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He said, “It reflects the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the welfare of its personnel and the families they leave behind in case of death.
“The commissioner described the gesture as “a practical expression of the Force’s appreciation for the sacrifices of its fallen heroes.”
Falade noted that although no amount of money could replace a loved one, the insurance benefit would provide meaningful support to the families left behind.
He assured the beneficiaries that “the Nigeria Police Force remembers its own and will not abandon the families of officers who paid the supreme price.”
He urged the families to utilise the funds prudently, particularly for the education and welfare of the children of the deceased officers.
The Ekiti police commissioner also commended the IGP, Force Management Team, relevant insurance stakeholders and the Force Insurance Unit for their efforts in settling the legitimate claims.
He assured serving police personnel that the welfare of officers and their families remained a priority of the Force.
Falade extended his condolences to the affected families and prayed for strength for them to bear their loss and for the eternal rest of the deceased officers.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mathew Emmanuel appreciated the IGP and the entire Nigeria Police Force for the gesture and continued support to the families of the fallen officers.
Emmanuel assured that the funds would be judiciously utilised for the welfare and benefit of the families of the deceased officers.
Two women have been killed in a fresh attack in India’s northeastern state of Manipur, with the latest incident bringing the number of civilian deaths linked to ethnic violence in the state to 10 in the past three weeks.
The women were killed near their home in Tamenglong district, about 150 kilometres west of the state capital, Imphal.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, police said the attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon and had triggered a shutdown in the area.
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“There is an ongoing shutdown in Tamenglong because of the killing of two women… on Tuesday afternoon,” the district police superintendent, Lanmiyo Luikham, told AFP.
Luikham said the attack appeared to be linked to recent clashes between predominantly Christian Naga and Kuki communities.
“We are carrying out the investigation and necessary formalities, and focusing on maintaining calm in the region,” he said.
The latest killings occurred just days after eight people were killed in three separate incidents across Manipur.
The northeastern state has been plagued by ethnic violence since 2023, primarily involving the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and mainly Christian Kuki minority.
The conflict has also increasingly drawn in the Naga community.
The violence has been fuelled by competing claims over land and political influence and has claimed more than 250 lives since it began.
Manipur also shares a porous border with war-torn Myanmar, adding to the security challenges facing authorities in the region.
Despite efforts by the Indian government to restore normalcy, fresh outbreaks of violence have continued in parts of the state.
Police said investigations into the latest attack are ongoing as authorities work to maintain calm in the affected area.
Four people have been killed following a fatal collision on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred at about 4 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, around Straight Gate School, Ipara Remo, along the Ibadan-Lagos route.
The accident involved a blue Mitsubishi Canter with registration number FGE 753 XA and an ash-coloured HOWO truck with registration number T-695 KT.
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The spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Chief Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
Odunsi said eight people were involved in the crash, adding that four male adults died, one male adult sustained injuries, while three others escaped unhurt.
According to him, preliminary investigations showed that speeding and wrongful overtaking were responsible for the crash, while fatigue was also identified as a contributing factor.
He said the Mitsubishi driver, who was travelling at high speed, rammed into the moving HOWO truck while attempting to overtake.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Sector Command, confirmed a fatal road traffic crash that occurred at about 0400hrs on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, along the Ibadan–Lagos route at Straight Gate,” Odunsi said.
He added that the FRSC rescue team received the report at 4:33 a.m. and arrived at the scene at 4:39 a.m., recording a six-minute response time.
The injured victim was taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS Mortuary, Ipara.
The crashed vehicles were subsequently handed over to the Police Motor Traffic Division, Isara Division, for further investigation and necessary action.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists to avoid speeding, fatigue and unsafe overtaking, particularly during early-morning journeys.
He also advised drivers to get adequate rest before embarking on long-distance trips and to overtake only when it is safe and permissible.
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