Lagos-Calabar Highway Will Serve As Evacuation Corridor For Deep Seaports – Umahi

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project will serve as evacuation corridors for deep Seaports and cargoes in the country.

The minister, who made the assertion during a consultative meeting with stakeholders on the ongoing Lagos coastal road project, added that the coastal road will connect to the free trade zones, deep sea ports, and Dangote refinery.

Umahi explained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to relieve the strain on Apapa Wharf, which has long faced challenges due to its shallow berths that limit cargo handling capacity.

These constraints, he noted, necessitated the costly process of trans-loading, where goods are shifted between vessels, resulting in significant daily financial losses for Nigeria.

He also emphasised the importance of the seven-axle road under construction, which will facilitate the seamless transportation of goods from the Dangote Refinery, Fertilizer Plant, and other significant industries within the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

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He said the critical infrastructure will connect to the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, ensuring smoother logistics and supply chains across critical regions, including the North, South-West, South-South, and South-East.

In addition, the project is set to tap into the renewable energy potential along the coastal corridor, with plans to harness wind energy for future development.

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.

Continuing, he noted that 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.

The minister further 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.