When I questioned the strategic value of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway in an era where we continue to struggle to maintain land-based highways, a member of our community here noted that Nigeria would abandon the realignment because few miles ahead, the builders will meet many submarine, telecom and internet cables. In other words, despite destroying private properties at scale, the realigned route was not feasible because they were cables which, if destroyed, would put Nigeria on internet and telephony darkness.
Good People, what that member wrote just happened: “The federal government has shelved and diverted realignment of Lagos-calabar coastal road projects while also saving the telecommunications infrastructure and submarine cables, among others at the axis”.
I call Mr. President to get annoyed here, and fire some people. Nigeria has many smart people, and he will not struggle to find a better team. Yes, you cannot tell me that someone did not check the locations of our core telecom infrastructure before approving the route. You cannot tell me that someone in the telecom regulatory body did not read about this to have alerted the government.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
You cannot tell me that engineers in the Works ministry did not follow the law which is before you dig, check what was under. You cannot tell me that these cables were unknown until those private properties were destroyed.
Yes, no matter your party, your religion, your tribe or whatever, nothing will change until we ask those working in the government to put in the effort. If these men and women destroyed those properties with FULL awareness they would be forced to stop because of those cables, installed more than 17 years ago, we need an explanation on WHY?
This is hilarious and very shameful at a national level. We need an explanation.
With the presidential directive, Telcos, MTN submarine cables, and workstations along the Okun-Ajah community axis have been saved from demolition after a thorough assessment of the EIA impact on infrastructure and business activities along the Okun-Ajah community axis.
The minister of Works, David Umahi, while addressing stakeholders meeting in Lagos on Compensation and Environmental Impact Assessment on the coastal road project informed community groups and traditional institutions in the state, particularly the Okun-Ajah community in Lagos.
Earlier, the Okun-Ajah community cried out and warned the federal and Lagos State governments over the alleged illegal variation to the Lagos-calabar coastal highway route which put six villages at the risk of demolition and also the displacement of three traditional kings within the Community if the plan was not shelved.
---
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here.
The fact that you are underestimating the capacity of many of your compatriots to be stupid is equally amazing. What manner of people are Nigerians to begin with? I do not hold brief for anyone, because even those you believe that went to school and are exposed will still disappoint, it has been a recurring thing here.
Here, people are not going to counter your opinion on facts, logic or anything practicable, rather they either attack your person, or focus on your tribe or even how you look. It is fruitless to tell unreasonable people to be reasonable.
I have asked before, why do we do the things we do, and what is really our motivation? If we support things just because of who’s doing them, rather than their viability and usefulness, then development will remain far from us.
There was talk about EIA and whether the final assessment was published, how was that critical observation handled? It was derided and deflected, but some of you still think there is ground to have a meaningful conversation. The very things the EIA would have addressed are what they are announcing via a presidential directive, and we are expected to clap, because we are that dumb and illogical. Which aspect of that project is not fraudulent? Wait for more.
Unfortunately, we just refused to learn.
Umahi should ask Emefiele how far. I find it very disturbing when professionals who are supposed to advise government rightly not join to executing shoddy projects. I mentioned Emefiele because he has right to resign even if PMB coarsed him.
Same with Umahi, the coastal road project has no EIA, he was rattled on air by arise correspondent.
He is an Engineer and solutions that has minimal impact on existing infrastructures can always be co created.
When the cheaps are down,we will see the fingers that will be burnt definitely not PBAT based on antecedents.
Shalom
I agree with you but, “chips” are not cheap .”
What do you expect from a perfidious, fraudulent, shameful, diabolical, insensitive and primitive accumulation driven set of people in this Tinubu government. Nigeria is totally doomed.