FG Wan Link Lagos-Calabar, Sokoto-Badagry Highways With Africa First Underwater Tunnel

Federal Government don announce say dem get plans to build wetin fit become Africa first underwater tunnel, and e go connect Lagos-Calabar road and Sokoto-Badagry highway, the two major highways. Minister of Works, David Umahi, talk dis one during inspection wey happen for Lagos on Wednesday. According to am, di tunnel go run for 2.9 kilometres, start from Ahmadu Bello Way reach Snake Island, and continue go Badagry.

“Our tunnel go dey inside ground, 2.9 kilometres long. When we finish am, e go be di first tunnel for Africa wey dey inside water,” Umahi talk. Di minister still explain say dem no go borrow money anyhow for dis project. Instead, dem go run am as Public-Private Partnership (PPP). He say lands wey dey around Snake Island and Badagry go help fund di project under Build, Operate, and Transfer.

“Before people begin shout say FG wan borrow money again, make una relax. We get land for Snake Island and Badagry side. We go use am under PPP to fund the tunnel,” Umahi add. Dis tunnel wey dem plan na part of bigger mission to connect coastal roads to Sokoto–Badagry corridor, wey go help reduce pressure on di current bridges for Lagos and improve movement across di country.

Umahi also use the opportunity take talk about the Federal Government’s new procurement policy. He say from now, foreign companies no go fit bid for any federal contract wey dey below ₦20 billion, so that local Nigerian contractors go get better chances.

“We no say Nigerian contractors sabi work. So we dey tell expatriates say make una no touch job wey be less than ₦20 billion. But our people fit handle even projects wey reach billions and trillions,” Umahi talk. E still warn contractors wey dey leave binder courses open for long time. He say na dis kind bad habit dey make roads spoil quick. Any contractor wey no follow instruction, according to Umahi, go collect negative certificate and government go recover part of the money wey dem don pay for di job.