The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project is set for completion by May 29, 2025.
During an inter-ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, part of Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary celebrations, Umahi disclosed that Hitech Construction Company Ltd is responsible for executing the project’s 47.47-kilometre stretch.
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The Lagos-Calabar highway, which spans over 700 kilometres, traverses Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. Umahi emphasized that tolls will be introduced for a period of five to ten years to recover the construction costs.
“People did not see this project as an investment,” he stated. “The first section will be completed by May 29, and we’re going to toll it, recovering our money within five to 10 years.”
To maximize returns, the government is acquiring land along the coastal highway for the development of tourism, factories, and housing.
“We’ve seen that tolling alone won’t bring immediate returns, so we are investing in land for tourism, factories, and housing,” Umahi explained.
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Additionally, Umahi underscored the importance of the highway in facilitating transportation, particularly from the Apapa Wharf and the Lekki Free Trade Zone, which is home to Dangote’s refinery and fertilizer plants.
The project also includes plans to harness renewable wind energy along the corridor for future development, ensuring the infrastructure’s long-term sustainability.
