Coastal Road to transform South-South,  South-East economies – Governor Otu

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By Akpan David, Calabar 

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has stated that the economies of South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria will be bolstered when the Calabar-Lagos coastal road is eventually constructed.

He spoke in Calabar after the flag off of the construction of the road by Minister of Works, David Umahi. 

The governor lauded the project as “a bold and visionary move that will transform the economic fortunes of our region.”

According to Governor Otu, the highway will restore Calabar’s status as a maritime hub while enhancing connectivity by land, air, and sea. 

“This is not just a road project—it is a corridor of prosperity that will unlock vast economic opportunities, create jobs, promote cultural integration, and connect our Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone to national and global markets,” he stated.

He reaffirmed the full support of the government and people of Cross River State for the project, praising President Tinubu’s economic reforms in infrastructure, agriculture, and public policy.

He noted that they are “being implemented fairly and without ethnic or regional bias.”

Otu, however, urged the Federal Government to accelerate work on other abandoned or delayed federal road projects in the state. 

“Many of our federal roads are in deplorable condition. Contracts were awarded years ago with little to no progress. Our people deserve better,” the governor stressed.

Otu described the commencement of construction on Section 3A/3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a historic breakthrough for Cross River State and the South-South region.

The Minister noted that the coastal highway is “a legacy project, which is 27 years in the making.”

He commended President Bola Tinubu for beginning the long-awaited project from Calabar.

Umahi assured Nigerians that he would personally oversee every aspect of the project. “I take full responsibility for the alignment, the cost, and the contractor,” he noted.