While the controversy over demolitions along the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction is yet to settle, property developers and landowners along the corridor had their hopes dangling. This is as a result of President Bola Tinubu warning to governors that approvals already given for illegal setbacks on federal highways will be revoked.Tinubu issued the warning last week during the official inauguration of the access road to the Lekki Deep Sea Port. This comes after the President warned developers not to erect structures on the setbacks around the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway during the commissioning of phase 1 of the project on Saturday where he disclosed that already, the Federal Government had so far paid N18 billion as compensation for the coastal road.He described the road as a strategic infrastructure that would enhance connectivity, facilitate investment inflows, and ease movement within the rapidly developing Lekki free trade zone. The reconstructed access roads to the Lekki Deep Seaport will drastically reduce logistics costs, ease congestion, and position Nigeria to reclaim maritime business that is lost to neighbouring countries.Reiterating the warning and emphasising the point again regarding illegal developments and unregulated land reclamation at the event where several state governors were present though the host governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was conspicuously absent, Tinubu said: “I am glad the Deputy Governor of Lagos is here; take it that we will revoke all those approvals, even on the setbacks already given, and please note that we are very serious about this. No more planning approval for those unapproved islands being created illegally.”The distance a building must be from a road or property line, generally ranging from three to nine metres, is known as ‘setbacks’. The President also appealed to the governor to avoid giving planning approvals without collaborating with the Surveyor General of the Federation and the Ministry of Works.“I have directed the Minister of Works to work with the Surveyor General of the Federation and all the governors on these legacy projects route bypass to procure reasonable setbacks for future land expansion, building of infrastructures to enhance road architecture and return on investment.“Please, our dear governors, let’s work together. Don’t give planning approvals without collaborating with the Surveyor General of the Federation and the Ministry of Works, please, I appeal to you,” Tinubu said.The President restated his administration’s resolve to prioritise infrastructure development across the country as a catalyst for economic growth and national integration. The President made the declaration while also highlighting ongoing national projects, including the 55-kilometre Lagos-Ogun section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and the Trans-Saharan Trade Route, among others.In a related development President R of Dangote Group president, Aliko Dangote, stated that the conglomerate is investing N900 billion in eight major road infrastructure projects across the country, including the newly commissioned Deep Sea Concrete Road along the Lekki–Epe corridor. Dangote made this known during the commissioning of the road and the tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.He noted that the projects, which span approximately 500 kilometres nationwide, are being undertaken in support of the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive and economic recovery efforts.Describing the refinery as a direct product of President Tinubu’s longstanding vision, Dangote recalled that the Lekki Free Trade Zone, where the industrial complex is situated, was established during Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State.Commending Tinubu’s economic policies, the industrialist particularly praised the Naira-for-crude exchange framework, which he said has enabled the refinery to reduce prices of petroleum products and contributed to the stabilisation of the Naira. He described the initiative as a clear testament to the present administration’s commitment to economic recovery and national sovereignty.Dangote also lauded the “Nigeria First” policy, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign imports and promoting local content, aligning it with his company’s long-held principle of producing what Nigerians consume.“We all have to align with this ‘Nigeria First’ policy because in America, they are doing ‘America First’. But here in Africa, you’re the first to say ‘Nigeria First’, to make such a policy decision. Your Excellency, this is highly commendable,” Dangote said.“Importation means import of poverty and export of jobs. Without this, your vision for a trillion-dollar economy for Nigeria will not be achievable,” he remarked, adding that the Group is ready to deepen collaboration with the Federal Government.Also speaking at the event, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, commended the Tinubu administration for significantly boosting sub-national revenues through its bold economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy. “On behalf of my fellow governors, our states’ allocations have increased. In Kaduna, we receive N4.7 billion monthly from the Federation Account,” he said.
