Umahi Details Tinubu's Highway Merger for Climate Resilience

David Umahi, the Minister of Works, stated that President Bola Tinubu's decision to merge the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project with the East-West Road was motivated by the need to combat climate change and create a more resilient transport corridor. Umahi welcomed this decision, noting that instead of building a new coastal alignment from Ondo through Edo State, the existing East-West Road would be upgraded.

He highlighted that the East-West Road, constructed several decades ago, is inadequate for current environmental conditions and requires substantial strengthening. Key upgrades will include raising sections of the road by two metres to exceed current flood levels and prepare for future climate impacts.

Umahi also mentioned a planned bypass, which will cover 45 kilometres of the total 104-kilometre distance from the end of Edo State, as a practical solution for navigating challenging areas. He commended the cooperation of governors along the corridor, emphasizing their support's importance for the infrastructure initiative's success.