Indications suggest that the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be commissioned by May 29, 2025.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed this timeline while leading a team comprising officials from the Federal Ministry of Works, the House of Representatives, and the Senate Committee on Works to inspect portions of the highway project, which spans eight states.
Minister Umahi reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to revitalizing abandoned road projects across Nigeria’s 36 states, including the Lagos-Calabar Highway. However, he cited various obstacles delaying the project, including legal disputes, lawsuits, and petitions from property owners affected by the project. He urged citizens to support the government’s efforts to deliver this critical infrastructure on time.
Umahi also noted that full compensation had been paid to affected property owners along the federal right-of-way before any demolitions began. He appealed to property owners to collaborate with the government to realize this coastal road’s full potential, which is expected to boost economic activity across the connected states significantly.
The minister highlighted challenges such as inflation, rising costs, and the depreciation of the naira, which have increased the cost of materials like bitumen and iron. He underscored the need for additional funding to meet these financial demands and ensure the project’s completion.
Reflecting on the broader state of road projects in Nigeria, Umahi pointed out that President Tinubu inherited over 20,000 ongoing projects, valued at N13 trillion, with contractors owed N1.6 trillion for completed work. To address this, Umahi asserted that the government would no longer tolerate delays, warning that contracts could be terminated if contractors failed to meet the required standards.
He specifically mentioned the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway project, awarded to Julius Berger Plc, stating that the government would reassign it to another firm if substantial progress isn’t made within a seven-day window.
Minister Umahi praised President Tinubu’s efforts to advance road infrastructure, emphasizing the significant benefits such improvements bring to Nigeria’s economy.
