Facts You Should Know About The Abuja-Lagos Superhighway

Facts You Should Know About The Abuja-Lagos Superhighway

When Engineer Dave Umahi, the Works Minister, confidently stated that the proposed Abuja-Lagos Greenfield Superhighway would reduce the journey time between the two cities from 14 hours to 4.5 hours, at 100 kilometres per hour, many Nigerians were skeptical. He stood firm in his assertion.

During his recent address to journalists in Lagos, Umahi emphasized that the 470-kilometre mega highway would be finished within four years and would have a lifespan of 100 years. When asked about the funding, he explained that a private sector consortium, Advance Engineering Company, would construct the road at no cost to the government. It would operate on a build, operate, and transfer basis, with tolls in place to allow the investors to recover their investment.

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In Umahi’s words, “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 further elaborated on the project’s specifications, highlighting that each lane of the road would be a two-carriage way, 14 metres wide, and constructed with 275-millimeter-thick concrete. The road would traverse eight states in the South-west and North-central before reaching Abuja.

Umahi commended the private consortium, Advance Engineering Company, expressing his satisfaction with their concept and preparations. He emphasized that the road’s construction would be based on concrete, allowing for cost predictability, unlike asphalt roads where costs fluctuate monthly.

The minister also revealed plans to transform the road into a business and industrial corridor, featuring amenities like hotels, factories, and housing estates along the route.

To underscore the seriousness of the project, Umahi mentioned that the contract would include stringent penalties, including a $10 million fine, if the consortium withdrew without valid cause.

Chairman of the consortium, Kenny Martins, described the project as “the first of its kind in Africa,” highlighting its compliance with information and communication technology (ICT) standards. The road would feature fibre optic connectivity, solar-powered street lights, and security points along its entire length, starting from the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge in Epe to Abuja.

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