Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed contractors handling the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway not to demolish or touch any building located along the current project alignment pending a review of the route….
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed contractors handling the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway not to demolish or touch any building located along the current project alignment pending a review of the route.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of Phase Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado in Benue State, where he also reviewed progress on the project and ordered contractors to accelerate construction.
The minister said the second section of the project covers 173 kilometres and is valued at ₦683 billion, while Section One is valued at ₦454 billion.
He said the contractor handling Section Two had opened the first element of the initial eight-kilometre stretch, while efforts were ongoing to resolve an engineering challenge around the Ado Bridge.
Umahi said he had directed the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while engineers work on the best solution for crossing the bridge.
“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” he said.
The minister also directed the contractor to open at least three sections of the first element of Section Two simultaneously to accelerate construction.
Umahi, however, said no building should be demolished until the alignment is reviewed and, where necessary, realigned to minimise the impact on affected communities.
“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he said.
He also ordered that sharp curves along the highway be strengthened, regardless of what was contained in the original design, stressing that engineering decisions must take into account realities on the ground.
Umahi commended the contractor for the progress made since his previous inspection.
“From the last time we were here until now, he has done very well, and I’m very proud of what he’s doing,” the minister said.
He explained that the project was being executed under an EPC Plus Finance arrangement, which does not provide for variations, making careful management of quantities and resources necessary.
The minister also highlighted additional works being undertaken under Section One, including the dualisation of the road at Onueke and the dualisation around Chainage 0 near Ndibe Beach.
