Umahi: Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on Course, Will Transform Niger Delta
Bennett Oghifo The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has declared that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is firmly on course, dismissing criticisms of the project and describing it as a strategic
Minister of Works David Umahi has confirmed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is progressing as planned, dismissing detractors' concerns over its cost. The minister inspected Section 4B in Ondo State, praising HITECH Construction for navigating tough terrain and building crucial access routes. The Ondo section spans 52 kilometers, with concrete pavement already laid in parts of the adjoining 28-kilometer Ogun Section.
Umahi emphasized that the project's complexity and strategic value could not be fully appreciated from an office, urging critics to witness it firsthand.
Defending the Federal Government's financing model, Umahi explained that the project is 30% funded directly by the government, while the remaining 70% is financed under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Finance (EPC+F) model. He stated that this arrangement highlighted the project's investment nature, rather than being a typical government road project.
Umahi noted that the Federal Government is currently undertaking only two new roads—Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway—with other projects being road rehabilitation or reconstruction.
Umahi highlighted the project's economic benefits, including the potential to enhance commerce, employment, and connectivity across the Niger Delta. He mentioned that the Ondo section alone has already employed over 1,000 workers by HITECH Construction. The minister also mentioned improvements in security, with security personnel and local vigilantes deployed along construction corridors.
Construction progress was reported across several states, with 27 kilometers ongoing in Calabar, and the 47-kilometer Akwa Ibom section more than 60% complete. The longest stretch, spanning 360 kilometers, was adjusted to avoid costly peat soil excavation and bridge construction over three major water bodies.
Umahi commended HITECH Construction for its technical expertise and positive relations with local communities, praising Chief Thomas Kudembu and High Chief Lieh of Ahili Kingdom and Uyitola, respectively, for their appreciation of the project. He urged Nigerians to support the coastal highway, emphasizing it as a significant infrastructure intervention under the Tinubu administration's commitment to rebuilding Nigeria's road network with durable construction standards.
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