Minister of Works, David Umahi, don defend Federal Government decision to change the route of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway for Ondo State, saying say deep pits and high construction costs make the original route difficult to build.

Umahi talk dis one for Abuja while e dey give update on President Bola Tinubu four major road projects.

E say di original route pass through areas wey get pits wey deep pass 100 metres, while suitable sharp sand no dey available for up to 300 metres, making construction more expensive.

According to am, di ministry decide to redesign di route and divert am to avoid di difficult terrain and reduce construction challenges.

Umahi say government dey use sharp sand to fill some areas to a depth of more than 10 metres, adding say di filling work don almost finish.

Di minister also say e aware of petitions against di route diversion but maintain say government decisions on public projects suppose face public scrutiny.

Di diversion affect Sections 4A and 4B of di coastal highway, covering 67 kilometres, including 27 kilometres for Ogun State and about 40 kilometres for Ondo State. Di road go end around di Ondo-Edo axis.

Coastal highway progress

Giving update on other sections of di project, Umahi say Section 1, wey cover 47.47 kilometres from Victoria Island for Lagos, don complete and dey ready for commissioning.

E add say government expect to complete di dual pavement for Section 2, wey cover 55 kilometres and end for Lagos-Ogun boundary, next month.

For Cross River State, di minister say work on Sections 3A and 3B, covering 65 kilometres, don pass 30 per cent completion.

E also disclose say work dey continue on Section 5, an 82-kilometre dual carriageway for Akwa Ibom State, alongside an 88-kilometre road linking Calabar to Ebidi Beach.

East-West Road alignment

Umahi also reveal say President Tinubu don direct make di continuation of di coastal highway from Ondo to Edo follow di existing East-West Road instead of creating a new route.

E explain say some sections of di road need to rise by two metres to protect am from current and future flooding.

Di minister put di Ondo-Edo corridor at 104 kilometres, including di 45-kilometre Benin Bypass, wey go help motorists avoid di busy urban centre of Benin City.

E say di project go help reduce traffic congestion and boost economic activities for di region.

Other Niger Delta road projects

Umahi further disclose say route surveys and procurement dey ongoing for di 129-kilometre dual carriageway from Edo-Delta boundary to Delta-Bayelsa boundary, with construction expected to start for November.

E also mention ongoing work on di 15-kilometre Eleme Junction-to-Onne road and di 9.7-kilometre Eket Bypass.

On di road linking Akwa Ibom to Calabar through Odukpani, Umahi say contractors don mobilise for emergency repairs and full reconstruction of di 82-kilometre dual carriageway.

E explain say government reduce di scope of di CCECC contract because of funding challenges.

Di minister urge people of di Niger Delta to recognise Federal Government efforts to improve road infrastructure across di region.