‘Quality job’ — reps panel commends progress on Lagos-Calabar highway

The house of representatives committee on works has expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work on section one of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

Akin Alabi, chairman of the committee, gave the commendation on Monday during an inspection of the ongoing construction.

Alabi praised the contractor for the “quality job”, and lauded the federal ministry of works for its effective supervision of the project.

He acknowledged some of the challenges pointed out by the contractor and urged the construction team to ensure timely delivery in line with the agreed schedule.

He said the committee would provide the necessary support for any additional funds required to complete the project, noting that the contractor had made prudent use of funds allocated so far.

“From our part in parliament, our job is clear. If you want N100, for instance, we give you N50. When you show us what you have done with it and reasons to give you the balance of N50—if you require more after that, parliament looks at it and chooses whether to approve or decline,” he said.

“In this case, based on what we have approved, there are contingencies that can accommodate changes. However, if they need more, they bring the matter to the parliament—committee of works—we will deliberate on it and support them the best we can.

“They have proven that the little they have received was used judiciously, so there is no reason we would not approve.

“And I have the authority of the honourable speaker of the house, Mr Tajudeen Abass, that whatever they need—within reasonable limit—the parliament would approve for them.”

Olukorede Kesha, federal controller of works in Lagos, thanked the committee for its “independent” assessment and commendation of the contractor and the ministry for the quality of work achieved so far.

Kesha emphasised the need for understanding to ensure quality, especially in challenging terrain, and to maximise the use of the nation’s limited resources.

“Though we want to solve situations, we do not want to put it on the ground. And we don’t want to waste the scarce resources that the nation has at the moment,” she said.

“So we need to watch the behaviour of the field material and then see how it reacts to the pressure applied.”

She explained that soil consolidation in swampy areas takes time, citing the Lagos-Badagry project where filled swamp areas were left for at least 18 months, spanning two rainy seasons, before the final road construction commenced.

Dany Abboud, managing director of HITECH Construction Company Ltd., assured the committee that the company remains committed to delivering a project that meets the federal government’s high standards.

On April 30, David Umahi, minister of works, said the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project was 70 percent complete.

The former Ebonyi governor added that the first phase of the project will be completed by January 2026.