The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has assured that the ambitious 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed by the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term in office.
This commitment was made during the signing of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance (EPC+F) contract for the project with Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Ltd.
Umahi characterized the highway as the “biggest ever known in Africa,” emphasizing the administration’s dedication to delivering this monumental infrastructure project under Tinubu’s tenure. “It is a wonderful thing to witness this and to be part of it,” he stated, underscoring the project’s significance.
Initiated in March 2024, the highway project is structured under an EPC+F model, enabling Hitech Construction to secure foreign investments alongside federal funding. The government has pledged 30% counterpart funding, with the remaining costs covered through foreign financing.
The first phase of the highway, spanning 47.7km from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos, is expected to be completed by May 2025, with each kilometer estimated to cost around N4 billion. Umahi reassured the public of the government’s commitment to ensuring the project meets global standards and acts as a catalyst for economic growth along Nigeria’s coastal corridor.
He expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating, “If not for the need to settle a substantial fee, we would have been able to commission the entire first section within a year, even though the project is scheduled for 36 months.”
As the government moves forward, the completion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is anticipated to significantly enhance transportation and economic activities in the region.
