Tinubu flags off 65km A’Ibom section of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday flagged off the 65km three-lane dual carriage way of Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway in Nsit Atai local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

In his remarks, Tinubu underscored the importance of the project, saying when completed the road will bring economic development to Akwa Ibom and foster national unity and integration.

The President, who was represented by Governor Umo Eno, explained that the project was one of the key components of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.

Tinubu said, “I want to say that great leaders think big and shy away from playing politics with projects that have enduring value.

“I agree with you that if you want to build the economy, build roads and roads. Road infrastructure is key catalyst for the growth and development of any Nation. It creates ease of movement of goods of services.

“It stimulates interstate movement and improves the quality of lives of the people. This is my vision for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

“Now we are in three A and B respectively which links Akwa Ibom and Cross River. The economic benefits it will to the people of these two states are enormous”,

Speaking in his capacity, Eno commended Tinubu for including Akwa Ibom as one of the benefiting states of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, added that his administration will support the project to successful completion.

The governor, who described Tinubu as a de-tribalized leader, assured that the President deserves to complete to complete his eight years in office to enable him complete the good works he has started.

“I want to thank Mr President for approving and embarking on this audacious project that is bound to unleash and expand our economic horizon and open up our hitherto unreacheable parts of our nation for easy movement of goods and services.

“I want to express the sentiments of the people of Akwa Ibom state for allowing the project pass through here. It could have gone elsewhere so it is not a right and we don’t take it for granted.

“I thank Mr President for thinking well for people particularly those of us in the coastal areas of this country so as to be able to move our goods and services to urban communities and urban centres

Eno said Tinubu must be supported to serve his eight years in office for him to complete the good works he has started.

“Let me end by assuring our people loving President who will complete eight years because we are going to stand by him and this is the truth. He cannot start this work and abandon it. Somebody else may not finish it.

“The Bible says who is this mountain that is standing before Zerubabel, the hand that has started doing this work, the hand will complete it.

“Our prayer is to pray for Mr President to have good health to complete what he has started so that it will not be abandoned and so that it will not be like the East-West road”.

Minister of Works, David Umahi called on communities in the state to cooperate with Hitech, the contractor handling the project, failing which the federal government may abandon the road and move elsewhere.

Umahi assured that compensation will be paid after due profiling of those properties have been affected by the road.