The Chairman of Waterways Assets Development Services (WADS) Limited, Elias Fidelis Amago, has highlighted critical underlying issues associated with the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
Amago emphasised that the project, which aims to enhance connectivity and boost economic activities along Nigeria’s coastline, depends on rigorous precautionary checks and robust coordination between governmental bodies.
In his submission to The Guardian, Amago, an expert on civil engineering structures in marine environments, detailed several pivotal checks necessary to avoid potential setbacks in the road’s construction.
These measures include detailed assessments of natural flood plains, geomorphological and geotechnical investigations, analysis of flood and wave characteristics, and ensuring adequate headroom clearance for bridges.
He said the construction plan also requires the installation of expansion joints, a minimum of 3.5 metres of subgrade fill above the soil grade, and the inclusion of weep-holes to manage water flow during flooding.
Amago warned that neglecting these essential checks could lead to seasonal overflooding, rapid degradation of road structures, and misalignment of the road surface, potentially crippling the infrastructure’s longevity and functionality.
He also highlighted the regulatory roles of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), which will focus on comprehensive studies of surface and groundwater flow near the road alignment to maintain standards and mitigate environmental impacts.
Amago underscored the historical administrative interfaces between the Ministry of Works and NIWA, suggesting that a collaborative approach is crucial.
He stated that the integration of efforts between the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and NIWA will be pivotal in installing appropriate roadside arboriculture and ensuring the project meets its environmental and infrastructural goals.
The General Manager, Area Offices Coordination at NIWA, Tammy Fiberesima, emphasised that these sets of checks and considerations will enable the project, once completed, to not only meet its technical specifications but also its performance targets and sustainability objectives.
He asserted that the management of this project should submit their designs and related documents for NIWA’s assessment, checking, or certifications, which should be conducted promptly and professionally.
