I have taken time to review and examine the proposed cost of doing 700km coastal road by the FGN at N15 trillion ($13 billion). This translates to about N21.42 billion/$17.85 million per kilometre.
I have also taken time to review the cost of building similar coastal roads in NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA AND CHINA (even the ones that included underground tunnels and bridges along the route).
I also reviewed the maintenance costs of those roads annually (especially, those that are over 80 years old in the US).
The consensus is that to build an average 1km coastal road (just one lane of 6 feet wide, 11 inches thick concrete base, with kerbs, drains, furniture and markings etc), costs between $156,000/N187.5m to $250,000/N300million
What is not yet clear, is the number of lanes that the FGN planned to do?
We do not also know the overarching reasons, behind the choice of a Hitech to do the road. What global experiences, do they have in coastal roads construction and development, (At other places around the world).
In saner climes, where there is accountability, transparency, credibility and respect for the people, in how public funds are spent, there should be out there, the Bill of Quantity (BOQ), developed and used to support this huge road construction contract.
We are yet to see the economic impact assessment research and report on this proposed coastal road project; in a country that is home to 197m poor people, 20million out of school kids, 49% illiterates and all manner of bandits, cut throats, terrorists, kidnappers etc.
$13bn/N15trillion, is a whole lot of money to spend on just 700km coastal road..
Already, it seems as if a majority of the media groups/operators , and a massive crowd of social media bandits, have already been recruited to ram this down our throats…to accept this, without questions.
If I am to be the one interviewing Dave Umahi, based on very factual research findings before me, I will make him sweat in the pants [ to justify, how/ how he and President Tinubu wants to spend $13bn on 700km Road..
Most unfortunately, we do not have an independent national assembly, with the required rigour, integrity, deep knowledge, capacity, faculties, independence, discipline and focus to interrogate this …
I also expected the Labour PARTY and PDP, to have strong teams of deeply knowledgeable and experienced professionals in place , dedicated to each key sector of the Nigeria economy.
Their assignment will be to interrogate every major decisions of the current government at all levels and arms, and subject to granular interrogations (while proferring superior and better, more cost efficient and economic enhancing alternatives ways of doing it).
For your information, $13billion is enough to build a brand new 1600km of double lane standard guage rail project, that runs all the way from Portharcourt, going across the River Niger, Asaba – Benin- Ore- to Lagos to Kano.
What is actually the priority of this government?
Is it optics, or to build tangible infrastructure projects, that adds more catalytic and incremental values to our national economic development?
At this juncture, I feel so sorry for Nigeria and Nigerians …
We sincerely and passionately want Nigeria to work, but unfortunately, it seems as if we are in for another long ride..
God have mercy on us all.
OBIARAERI Nnaemeka Onyeka wrote in from Abuja and can be reached on WhatsApp: 09090900989.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.