The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced on Monday that the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a major infrastructure project, is expected to be completed by May 29, 2025.
According to The PUNCH, this phase covers a 47.7-kilometer stretch within Lagos State, beginning at Ahmadu Bello Way.
Upon completion, the highway will be tolled for a period of five to ten years, during which the construction costs will be recovered.
The project, which kicked off in March 2024, is being executed by Hitech Construction Company Limited.
While inspecting a previously evacuated and now refilled section of the road that once served as a dump site, Umahi expressed his satisfaction with the progress and quality of the work being done.
He acknowledged that concerns had been raised regarding the timeline, stating, “I am very happy with the work and people have been asking me that we say that 47-kilometre will be commissioned by May 29, and they are counting months for me, and they are counting months for Hitech. But I have no fear about what Hitech is doing. First, it is good quality work; the most difficult aspect of this is the settlement of the sand.”
Umahi reassured that the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would indeed be completed by the targeted date, emphasizing the financial strategy behind the project.
“The first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is going to be completed by May 29th and we are going to toll it and we’re going to get our money back within 5 to 10 years,” he added.
In addition to the tolling arrangement, the Minister revealed that the Federal Government has plans to maximize the economic potential of the highway corridor.
These plans include the development of adjacent land for tourism, industrial factories, and housing projects, which are expected to generate additional revenue and foster economic growth.
Umahi also underscored the importance of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in addressing the challenges at Apapa Wharf, a major port that has long suffered from operational inefficiencies.
The wharf’s shallow berths, he explained, limit the cargo capacity that can be handled, resulting in a costly practice known as “translating,” where goods must be shifted between vessels.
This inefficiency, Umahi noted, incurs significant daily financial losses for the country.
Moreover, the Minister highlighted the importance of the ongoing construction of seven-axle roads, which will enhance the transportation network, particularly benefiting industries such as the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plant located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
These roads will also provide a critical link to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, easing logistics across key regions, including the North, South-West, South-South, and South-East of the country.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is an ambitious 700-kilometer project designed to improve connectivity across nine states along Nigeria’s coastline, enhancing trade, transportation, and overall economic activity in these regions.
Hitech Construction Company Ltd. was awarded the contract for this project under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement. In this model, the contractor assumes the bulk of the financial and construction risks, while the federal government provides counterpart funding.
Construction of the full 700-kilometer highway is expected to be completed in eight years, with multiple sections being developed concurrently.
The commencement of other sections will depend on the finalization of procurement, necessary approvals, and other preparatory processes.
The project, once complete, is poised to play a crucial role in Nigeria’s long-term economic development and infrastructural transformation.
