Infrastructure: Minister unveils further plans, says Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway completion is May 2025

*H.E. Engr. (Sen.) David Umahi, Minister for Works, discloses the first phase of the ongoing Lagos─Calabar Coastal Highway project is due for completion May 29, 2025, noting the Federal Government plans additional initiatives, including developing land along the corridor for tourism, factories, and housing to further enhance returns on the road infrastructure

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

H.E. Engr. (Sen.) David Umahi, Honourable Minister for Works, has revealed the first phase of the ongoing Lagos─Calabar Coastal Highway project will be completed May 29, 2025.

ConsumerConnect reports Sen. Umahi stated this Thursday, September 26, 2024, during an inter-ministerial media briefing as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary.

It is recalled that the construction of the highway began March this year.

The Federal Government awarded the first phase of the project, made up of 47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway, to Hitech Construction Company Limited.

According to Umahi, the iconic Lagos─Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to relieve the strain on Apapa Wharf, located in Lagos State, South-West region, regarded as the commercial hub of the West African country.

The Minister noted that when the gigantic road project is completed, the highway would be tolled for five to 10 years to recover construction costs.

Umahi hghlights benefits of coastal highway to Nigerian economy

Umahi said: “We started the coastal highway, 700 kilometers that is traversing Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

“People did not understand the merits of this project. People did not see this project as an investment.

“And so … the first section is going to be completed by May 29, and we’re going to toll it, and we’re going to get back our money within five to 10 years.”

The Federal Government, the Minister also stated, is planning to implement additional initiatives, including developing land along the corridor for tourism, factories, and housing, as part of efforts to further enhance returns on the project.

Umahi further disclosed “we also acquired a number of land within the corridor, because we’ve seen that tolling of roads alone is not just going to give you return on investment immediately.

“So, along these corridors, we are acquiring land where we use for tourism, where we use for factories, where we use for housing and so on and so forth.”

In regard to economic losses to the congested Apapa Wharf over the years, he recalled: “This has long faced challenges due to its shallow berths that limit cargo handling capacity.

“These constraints have necessitated the costly process of transloading, where goods are shifted between vessels, resulting in significant daily financial losses for Nigeria.”

The importance of the seven axle road under construction is to facilitate the seamless transportation of goods from the Dangote refinery, fertilizer plant, and other major industries within the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), he stated.

Umahi also explained “this critical infrastructure will connect to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, ensuring smoother logistics and supply chains across key regions, including the North, South-West, South-South, and South-East.”

The project, the Minister said, is set to tap into the renewable energy potential along the coastal corridor, with plans to harness wind energy for future development in Nigeria.