Nigerian Minister of Works, Dave Umahi has revealed that the Federal Goverment through his ministry will start a proposed 4th Mainland Bridge Supersonic Highway whivhy will take four hours to drive from Lagos to Abuja the federal capital.
Umahi who made the revelation during his meeting with Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his Office in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Thursday said, “we had a presentation on it yesterday with the consultant , and it’s going to be on Public Private Partnership (PPP)”.
The Minister further revealed that all conclusions on this supersonic highway will be made within two months and work will start, Umahi said”, Let me announce to you that Lagos proposed 4th Mainland Bridge Supersonic Highway will take four hours to drive from Lagos to Abuja.
He added, “we had a presentation on it yesterday with the consultant, and it is going to be on Public Private Partnership (PPP), driving from Lagos to Abuja will take 4hrs, we are concluding on it within one or two months and work will start”.
The Minister who expressed readiness to work with State Governors on highway project said there is a programme called Highway Development Management Initiative ( HDMI) which allows states and other Private Investors to engage with the FG either to take over a fully constructed road to toll.
“And maintain it in partnership with Federal Government or take a brand new road and reconstruct it and toll it, under laid down agreement, l am very much open to that, we also bring some roads architecture into this kind of arrangement; solar lights where we can fix CCTV to monitor our roads.
“And increase visibility, this will largely reduce insecurity and also create service stations, we can monitor security at these service stations, we have mini clinics , toll vans at this stations just as we see outside the country”, Umahi added.
He said, “it is better to break the law and save the life of Nigerians“ while told Ogun State Governor that any state government that wants to do PPP with Federal Government has his approval already.
“Your Excellency, I am here for you and I pledge to my country and to you to align with your heart beat with the welfare of your people, road is everything when you have good road, insecurity is reduced, economy will boom, trade will thrive, education will thrive road is one infrastructure that will touch every sector of our economy. Mr President is very committed to fixing our road that will last 50years”, Umahi said.
The Minister explained that when people are suffering they don’t talk about who owns the road, fixing the road is what they are interested in and that was what Ogun, Lagos and Oyo State Governments were doing, ”anyone that is complaining that he cannot fix Nigeria road is playing politics”
While holding similar meeting with His Excellency Executive Governor of Oyo State Engr Seyi Makinde in his office in Ibadan, the Hon Minister of Works commended Oyo government for working on Federal Roads.
“You have done quite a number of roads and you were not waiting that you must have all approval before you do it, if we are waiting for due process of refund for working on FG roads, our people will be the ones to suffer. We are excited with Governor Seyi Makinde, we as a Govt has also done a number of roads” Umahi said.
His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State Prince Dapo Abiodun, in his reaction told the Minister, ”I thank you for the remarks you made about how we’ve been very indiscriminate in working on roads weather they are Federal or State roads.
“When our citizens are suffering on the road they don’t ask who owns the road. I thank you for saying you will give approval to State Government that wants to fix Nigerian roads, that has demonstrated your capacity and understanding”, the Governor said.
During the Minister of Works meeting with the Oyo State Governor, he said “For us If a road is important to our economy we just go ahead and fix it, an example is the road between Oyo and Iseyin, the road passes through our major agric business hub and for agro processors in the area, they need good roads to evacuate their products”.
FG asked us to follow the Federal standard in building the road which we did, the project is about 34km and shall be commissioned September 15, 2023″. Management Staff of the Ministry of Works and State dignitaries were present at both meetings.