The Southern Solidarity Alliance (SSA) has once again called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently to ensure the successful completion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, a flagship project that inspires hope across Southern Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by Mr. Ndubuisi Okafor, National Coordinator of SSA, and Mr. Orakpor Emmanuel Ogheneganaye, Director of Publicity, the group expressed grave concern over the sudden collapse of sections of the road, barely into its first rainy season.
“Sections of the road have begun to give way, washed off by floodwaters and weakened by what appears to be poor technical execution,” the statement read.
SSA warned that such early structural failure on a monumental national project demands urgent attention from President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works.
“We must now ask the hard but necessary questions. Is the construction company truly qualified to handle a project of this magnitude? Was a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out before commencement? The signs on ground suggest otherwise,” the statement added.
According to the group, observations at the affected areas indicate that little or no understanding of the region’s soil structure and landscape was factored into the execution. The filling material—mainly sand—has proven no match for seasonal rainfall, rendering the construction dangerously vulnerable to erosion.
“This is not just a failure of materials, but a failure of professionalism,” the group asserted.
SSA also raised concerns over the procurement process for the project:
“Was there a credible and competitive bidding process? Were qualified companies considered? If not, what else explains this technical disaster? Across the world, roads are built in deserts and coastal regions alike—what makes ours different? We must stop entrusting critical infrastructure to unqualified hands.”
To restore confidence and prevent further deterioration, the Southern Solidarity Alliance is calling on President Tinubu to:
- Order an immediate and comprehensive technical review of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.
- Engage independent experts in civil engineering, environmental science, and geotechnics to assess the current damage, evaluate the construction methods, and recommend long-term, sustainable solutions.
- Replace the contractor if found grossly incompetent or negligent. “Nigeria cannot afford to watch another high-value national project fail, wasting the hopes and resources of millions. This project represents a beacon of infrastructural renaissance for the Southern region—it must not be allowed to fail.”
SSA concludes by urging prompt presidential action, warning that the time to act is now.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh