The minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed by May 29, 2025, after which it will be tolled for five to 10 years to recover the construction cost.
Hitech Construction Company Limited commenced construction of this first phase, which stretches 47.7 km within Lagos State, starting from Ahmadu Bello Way, in March 2024.
Umahi disclosed this while inspecting an evacuated but now refilled section of the road that was once a dump site.
“I am thrilled with the work, and people have been asking me to say that 47 kilometres will be commissioned by May 29. 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 challenging aspect is the sand’s settlement.
“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 five to 10 years,” Umahi said.
The works minister further disclosed that in addition to tolling, the Federal Government is planning to implement additional initiatives, including developing land along the corridor for tourism, factories and housing, to further enhance returns on the project.
Umahi explained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was designed to relieve the strain on Apapa Wharf, which has long faced challenges due to its shallow berths that limit cargo handling capacity.
He also emphasised the importance of the seven axle roads under construction, which would facilitate the seamless transportation of goods from the Dangote Refinery, Fertilizer Plant, and other significant industries within the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
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 Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700-kilometer project designed to span nine states. It aims to improve connectivity and boost economic growth along Nigeria’s coastline.
The contract for the project was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd. under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement, where most of the financial and construction risks are assumed by the contractor, with the federal government providing counterpart funding.
Construction officially began in March 2024 with the first phase, a 47.7-kilometer stretch in Lagos State, starting from Ahmadu Bello Way.
The minister of Works stated that the 700-kilometre highway is expected to be completed in eight years, with multiple sections beginning simultaneously once procurement, approvals, and other necessary processes are finalised.
