The minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the ongoing 7th Axial road will create evacuation corridors connecting the Lekki-Deep sea ports, Dangote Refinery and 17 Southern States along the axis.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far on the 7th Axial Road Project, connecting the evacuation corridors of Lekki-Deep sea ports, Dangote Refinery, and Sagamu-Ore road, with a target of inauguration in April.
Umahi stated that the 7th Axial road, which includes 50 kilometres of dual carriageway and an additional five kilometres of bridges, will facilitate the movement of goods from the Lekki Deep Seaport, including products from the Dangote Refinery and Fertiliser plant.
He said the corridor would connect Epe to the Sagamu–Ore Expressway, creating a vital logistics link to 17 southern states and the wider northern region.
The minister affirmed that the 7th Axial Road is an evacuation corridor that will connect the Lekki Deep Sea Port and, in part, serve as an evacuation corridor for goods along the Deep Sea Port. And it takes us straight to Epe, and it takes us straight to the Shagamu-Ore Road, and to the 17 southern states and the other northern states within that axis.
He noted that the 7th Axial Road project was initially approved during the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, with the intention of securing funding from the China Exim Bank.
Umahi further disclosed that the 7th Axial Road project was one of two strategic road proposals that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his last state visit to China, where he sought funding support from the China Exim Bank. The other proposal was the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road, 50 per cent Minister, while addressing journalists, said the coastal route was already serving its purpose, fulfilling a vision conceived over two decades ago and now being realised under the present administration.
According to the minister, about 95 per cent settlement has been achieved on critical sections of the 47.47-kilometre Section Two project, excluding bridges.
He commended construction firm HITECH for effectively addressing significant engineering challenges, including deep pits and refuse dumps encountered along the corridor.
Senator Umahi disclosed plans to complete and inaugurate Section One by the end of April, alongside inaugurating about 50 per cent of Section Two.
He explained that phased inauguration of completed sections is necessary to allow public use rather than waiting for the entire project to be finished.
The minister further announced that the highway will be tolled upon completion, in line with the EPC plus F project funding arrangement, with infrastructure for tolling to be put in place.
He assured Nigerians that, despite construction challenges and realignments, there would be no further budget increase, as contractors are absorbing some of the risks as part of national development efforts.
