Umahi speaks on why Abuja-Lagos Highway must be done in four years

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the proposed Abuja-Lagos highway will be completed in four years.

The minister, in a press conference earlier in the week, said driving from Lagos to Abuja will take four hours when the project is completed.

Umahi, said the road will be made with concrete, which is “cheaper than asphalt”.

Umahi, who was flanked by Kenny Martins, the chairman of Advance Engineering Company — a consortium in charge of the highway — said the project, a Public Private Partnership (PPP), would be solely funded by the consortium in charge.

He added that the federal government would only be in charge of supervision.

“When I first introduced this to the public, many doubting Thomases were saying ‘it is impossible, Lagos-Abuja that is done in 14 hours cannot be done in four and half-hours’, that is the renewed hope of Mr President,” he said.

“The president has approved that I fast-track this project. This project is going to be two lanes, but each lane is going to be a two-carriage way and it is going to be 14 metres.

“The only carriageway that is equivalent to this is the third mainland bridge where each carriageway is 14 metres. It is going to be built on 275-millimeter thick concrete.”