 Thank you for staying with us. You're still watching the breakfast on plus TV Africa It's time for a hot topic and this one talks about the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar and it says federal government coastal road To cost four billion an hour per kilometer and completion in eight years Joining me to have a conversation is Mohammed Abdulahi is a public relations analyst. Good morning, Mohammed Thank you for joining me Morning Nigerians all in my pleasure. All right, so we're talking about the coastal highway from Lagos to Calabar now This is supposed to cut through from Lagos to Ogun Ondo Daud Delta by Elsa on rivers Also a quai bomb and finally get into Cross river states what we're looking at a spread of nine states now this, you know Project says to cost about four billion era per kilometer and we're looking at 15 trillion in total and also another information is it will be Ready in eight years now. I just want to get some information about you. What do you know about this whole coastal road? Yeah, um It's a fantastic project. I think for a very long time. Nigeria has not had a Singular project. There's this guy got one and then and then monumental What do I mean by being monumental and got one is the fact that? this singular project is about taking More than at least 80% of Nigeria's current budget. I mean for this year If you look at the budget for this year is about 23 trillion. So we are saying in about eight years. We'll have Modern 15 trillion era spent on one singular project So is it is a very big and very very monumental project, you know And like you mentioned earlier is cutting across nine states of the Federation and if you look at the design of the project Is a five lane on each side? Which means a 10 lane project? and then In the middle of this 10 lane there will be provision and design for a rail line Which means it's a modern project Because you have provision for a road and then for a rail perhaps in the nearest future in the nearest future as well The country also be thinking of like instituting a rail on that corridor, which is fantastic so on the General is a good one, but I think what the hula-pah-loo has been is the cost of the project, but we should understand that big project cost big money you understand and Again, what is also important that people should understand is the fact that? This road is a coastal road is not Just on the road on a plain land you understand because if you look at for instance the distance between Lagos and Calabar or crossy bad the moment is more than 700 kilometers about 790 something kilometers You understand which means driving from Lagos on the existing road now We take with all the traffic jams here and there all the bottlenecks and perhaps due to bad road as well We take more than 14 hours for you to drive From Lagos to Calabar at the moment what we have but with the completion of this coastal road It is projected that it will take less than six hours from Lagos So you can see the monumental changes the differences between what we have now and what the government is planning I mean to spend this 15 trillion on so it's a big project because like I said earlier is something that is on On the on the coasts on waters. You understand so You don't expect what is spent on like on land points Stance, you know, you have bridges here and there you have all the beams and I'm not an engineer anyway I know but you have all pillars here and there so that's why this road is very expensive I'm not just to find the cost because like I said, I'm not an engineer. I'm not a surveyor, but I also understand That such for that definitely will cost more than if you are labeled on on a plain land So this is a nutshell this is in a nutshell is What the coastal road project is all about like the government has said perhaps is a public private partnership thing Because the government is also planning to have a toll on that road In order to recoup at least some of these monies that that is a mark to be spent in the next few years Okay, so I mean you've said a lot and I'm just going to write off, you know Information that you've given me so first let's talk about the cost then you said you're not an engineer So you don't you can't really ascertain how much it should cost But isn't this isn't this where accountability and transparency supposed to come in for instance There should be an open bid for whoever is going to take on the project Also, how do we know that it is not being inflated because you've seen in fact Let's talk about, you know the National Assembly and you've seen where there's budget padding where you know figures are being inflated Could this be a case whereby, you know figures might just be inflated as well and then don't we have to you know Just compare prizes with other projects like this. How much does it cost to actually create? One kilometer is that four billion, you know the actual amount in corridors like this So with costs, how do we you know ascertain the transparency from the government based on this project? That was a very big challenge a very very big one. I think perhaps the Minister of Works Senator Dave O'Mahe will be in a better position to answer this question, but With my little knowledge, I will say This is a very big challenge in Nigeria because I remember even the new EFCC chairman on an assumption of office around October July October August October last year if I'm correct made a statement and made a press briefing about how over-blooded project and over-blooded contract has cost Nigeria over 2.9 trillion in just two years So yes, if people are raising the fears, if people are scared and afraid that perhaps this project is also over-blooded I think you don't want to blame some persons You don't want to blame these critics because perhaps I'm sorry to say is our culture here that whether it's government or private a project to have the culture of Inflating the cost is really Unfortunate, but it's like it's our culture most times in government if you follow tracker for instance What they do bring awareness to you know government projects Across the country you see some of these things that projects are being inflated here So perhaps yes, there's possibility because like you rightly mentioned The government in her open bid and it's been I think it's been the culture of governance here and some of these monumental project that we've had whether it's the train construction The government just with wakes up one day and then you know grant contract or issue contract to a particular Agency or a particular company and so on without having an open bid I think this is a major challenge here because like rightly mentioned I'll agree with you that This kind of a project should have been like an open bid where you have all the companies that things They have the way with that and the capability and the capacity to you know execute this kind of project Compete and and and you know put up their bid and the best Come not necessarily the cheapest please because sometimes the cheapest isn't the best but the best company that can handle such Is granted but it's also not our culture like I said the fake In our Mondays which used to be on Wednesdays would just wake up and say we are issues in social contract So so so so social contract which in my own opinion should be Particularly for projects that are monumental in such nature. I I also understand the fears of Nigerians It is being alleged and I think it's confirmed also is this that the Chaguri group I mean Chaguri corporations that are very very close. I mean to to to mr. President Leading this project. I mean the high-tech company that is constructing this for that so people feel Is a thing of perhaps a table and so on and so forth and then because if you are if you remember The Chaguri leader was part of the confidant That was how he was described as part of those who are complete mr. President to Corp 29 in in Dubai Late last year you understand so perhaps yes, there might be no trust There was no transparency in issue the contract But I think what Nigerians will focus on is the fact that yes In these eight years as perhaps the government this government will be because we only know for yet Constitutionally now perhaps if they will extend to eight years in the eight years that these government perhaps would be What I think Nigerians to focus on is that this jet is executed as stated by Honourable Minister Senator Project might take up to eight years And then for billionaire a kilometer Total in about 15 trillion era perhaps in the next eight years So I think that this should be our major focus now since the contrary has already been awarded. You understand and will keep tabs on Development as Nigerians Okay, so still staying on cost because another thing that we know of and that you rightly said was the fact that they are going to Create tolls now these toll stations You know are going to be about five thousand around the average so for cars and you know trucks as well And well the good thing about this is that each tolling station would have restaurants and you know Parking different amenities that you can just even fuel stations as well that you can just have just each Just by each tolling station. Well now here is my question because since we're talking about custom If this is being funded by the government, why do you have to toll it? Because I I want to believe that you know the government takes taxpayers money and in return You create infrastructure You give them certain amenities just to improve the livelihood of Nigerians So if this is a project that has been funded by the government by the government Why do they have to toll it and still ask? This same taxpayers that they've gotten money from to pay for the road as well for the next for stable future Yeah, I think it's simple is because the government is really trying to equip money the fact is We can't say Nigeria is totally booked, but seriously we needed a lot of money for so many things security Food so many things across board So if you remember earlier, we mentioned that this project is totally about 15 trillion there perhaps even inflation is not even factored in So I am also very skeptical that perhaps in the next two three years There might be with you so and if you look at 15 trillion like I mentioned earlier It is more than 70 or even 80% of the total budget as such today of 2024 so how do you spend 80% of your budget? I mean for one year on a single project in the next eight years You understand, you know, and remember where your money economy all of our earnings perhaps eighty seventy percent Good oil is on a lower sales across the world. You understand one we don't even know what the next eight years looks like You know, that's why I said perhaps even inflation is not part of it. So there are so many factors, you know So one government is trying to do is actually to recoup back some of the bad not all but some of the monies in order to also have Know the opportunity to execute all that project. So I think in this In in in this, you know kind of situation, I wouldn't blame the government to tell you seriously because You know, the challenges are Enomos we have so many things to do with money And then if you are trying to build in the next eight years a singular project just one project With 15 billion and perhaps I will create a lot of advantages. Like we said come here to Calabar We just take you I'm sorry from Lagos to Calabar would just take you like six hours You know, you mentioned that on each of the tools, you know, there will be restaurants There will be petrol stations, you know, they have the fund activities to do that will cover last to your pack You know, enjoy themselves spend money and you know, thereby also creating opportunities Opportunities and employment for those people that are there, you know, so it's a multiplier effect You understand. So I don't think the government should be totally blamed for this because It's a huge expenditure and then, you know, it's it's our own doing as citizens to also help the government in occupying Some kind of revenues in order to also Find such to execute order tasking projects All right, I know that in some countries I think in Italy for instance They have major roads and then they have tolls and most times the the money recovered from those tools are to maintain You know such roads, so I can understand that if because I know one thing that we say in Nigeria is that we don't have a very good Maintenance culture. So you're seeing the roads Dilapidating you're seeing buildings. You're seeing so many things that are just not maintained And so I know that is important to maintain this road So if the money that the government is recovering is for the maintenance, then why not? But I understand you as well, you know talking about just getting more money because that's a huge Project in fact is a mega project because if we're talking about 15 trillion Naira for just one and since you said we don't even know what inflation is going to be like Definitely the government needs more money to be able to put in other sectors as well such as Education healthcare and you know just any basic amenities power that the people need But now I want to talk about continuity. I mean the government that we have the present administration is for the next four years So for instance provincial that is not the same ruling Administration in the next four years. What is continuity of this project going to be like? Is this something that is going to move past? Administrations or is it something that maybe a new administration might just come and say, you know what? I want to do my own thing and so this project might just be abandoned because now The the current minister for works is, you know projecting about eight years for this and we are not sure The present administration is going to be there for the whole eight years This is a very challenging question This is a very big problem that we've had over the years yes from federal level to take an even local government level continuity Exactly that's why I had to ask that question Every leader wants to come and shine on his or her own terms Okay, I don't want to continue with my credit sometimes even With parties that are same. Yes, we've had these challenges across state The same party different leaders and then you have abandoned projects everywhere Because they want to create their own they want to have their own name, you know But thank God for Lagos for instance if I if I may use Lagos as an example Lagos have been able to succeed to this little extent in my own estimation because of Continuity in governance. You understand. Yeah, if we realize from the days of the present the present President as governor Up until now you've had, you know, really no major abandoned project from one You know from from one administration to the other They understand that yes, this is the state We are same party. We are same people. There's nothing wrong in continuing to look at even the rail The intracity rail that was lost commission across Lagos. You understand This is something that has been in design for more than 24 years, you know successive administration design this they got to this stage and now it's been completed by Governor So I think so this is something that other state and even the federal government should emulate because continuity is very very important perhaps In the sense that you know, this project are even very meaningful to Nigerians. You understand So yes, Nigerians should should focus on this and then should plead with successful government Lobbyist pressure group to continue project that have impact With Nigerians for instance If we talk about continuity for instance the empower program has been suspended by this by this government They are both APC the past position was President Muhammad of Buhari APC this same administration have Suspended empower for instance some of even though we know perhaps maybe is because of the corruption That has to do with the humanitarian Ministry, yes, but I think this is a big challenge for us and we have you are very right If perhaps we have a change the government in the next four years Perhaps opposition look I read some of the things that the PDP candidate article wrote about the coastal Highway, I mean two days ago or yesterday if the opposition party got End of power in the next four years. I want to believe perhaps they might not continue with the project. Yes, you know Perhaps or maybe even if they will continue they will want to change the contractors and so on so forth So but I think in essence what is important is that what I is the opposition or even a successful government From the same party. What is important is that there should be continuity. You understand The successful administration should succeed in implementing Policies and projects of their predecessors that are of interest to the masses without necessarily abandoning them Exactly. I mean rightly said because at the end of the day, it's something that would improve the lives of Nigerians So that should be the goal that is paramount even more than your own ambition to say. Yes I want to shine. I want to do my own thing and I'm also the Nigerian society of engineers have said that this would actually impact the state's economies So we should be thinking about about the economy of Nigeria We should be thinking about how to you know, just raise funds grow our revenue grow our GDP and make sure that everybody is happy Anyway, this is where we have to wrap it up on the segment. Thank you so much for coming It was a pleasure having a conversation with you Thank you very much. I was not there. Good morning Nigerians. Thank you All right, we've been speaking with Mohammed of Delahi is a public relations analyst And we've been talking about the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar Where the Minister of Works has said is going to cost about four billion per kilometer And we're looking at 15 trillion in the next eight years where it will be completed We'll go on a short break and one return we'll be looking at our next hot topic This one talks about a toxic cough syrup and naphthaq. 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