The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced on Monday that the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is on track to be completed by May 29, 2025. Following its completion, the highway will be tolled for a period of 5 to 10 years to recoup construction costs.
This first phase of the project spans 47.7 kilometers within Lagos State, beginning from Ahmadu Bello Way, and construction was initiated in March 2024 by Hitech Construction Company Limited. Umahi made this announcement during an inspection of a section of the road that had been cleared of waste and refilled.
“I am very happy with the work, and people have been asking about the commissioning date for the 47-kilometer stretch. They are counting the months for me and for Hitech, but I have no concerns about their progress. The quality of work is good; the most challenging aspect has been settling the sand,” Umahi stated.
In addition to the tolling, the Works Minister highlighted the federal government’s plans to develop land along the corridor for tourism, factories, and housing, aimed at enhancing the project’s returns.
Umahi further explained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is intended to alleviate congestion at Apapa Wharf, which has struggled with shallow berths limiting cargo capacity. He noted that these limitations have resulted in costly transloading processes, where goods are shifted between vessels, leading to substantial daily financial losses for Nigeria.
He emphasized the significance of the seven-axle roads currently under construction, which will enable efficient transportation of goods from major industrial sites such as the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plant, located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone. This infrastructure will connect to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, improving logistics and supply chains across key regions, including the North, South-West, South-South, and South-East.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is an ambitious 700-kilometer initiative that will traverse nine states, aimed at enhancing connectivity and stimulating economic growth along Nigeria’s coastline. The contract for this project was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd. under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) model, where the contractor assumes most of the financial and construction risks, with the federal government providing counterpart funding.
Construction officially commenced in March 2024, and the full 700-kilometer highway is projected to be completed within eight years, with multiple sections expected to begin simultaneously once necessary procurement and approval processes are finalized.