KEY POINTS
- Lagos-Calabar coastal highway opens partially in December.
- Funding oversubscribed as investor confidence rises.
- Major structures further advance ahead of 2026 commissioning.
The Federal Government says the completed portion of Section One of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will open to motorists between December 12 and 17.
Works Minister David Umahi announced this during an inspection tour on Sunday and said the government will formally commission the entire section in April 2026. He noted that only about two kilometres of the stretch remain unfinished.
The minister led officials across 47.37 kilometres of the project during the tour. The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway spans 700 kilometres, beginning from Victoria Island in Lagos and terminating in Calabar, Cross River State. Umahi said the construction had achieved measurable progress despite deliberate slowdowns in selected areas to allow proper subsoil settlement, which he described as essential for the road’s long-term stability.
Lagos-Calabar coastal highway section opens to motorists
He praised Hitech Construction Company for what he called an uncommon commitment to the work, adding that the company’s drive extended beyond financial incentives.
Umahi also noted strong investor interest in the project, saying investors oversubscribed the foreign loan component by $100 million. He said the response reflected confidence in the ministry’s processes and the highway’s economic potential.
Hitech Managing Director Danny Aboud said sand filling is moving steadily across the swamp zones, and crews have already completed between 34 and 35 kilometres of reinforced concrete pavement on Section One.
Beyond the first section, the minister inspected a 25-kilometre dual carriageway under construction between Eleko near Dangote Cement, Ibeju-Lekki, and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State. He also reviewed progress on a major flyover at Chainage 47.474, designed to connect Sections One and Two.
Progress accelerates across Lagos-Calabar coastal highway segments
With crews completing 80 percent of the piling work, the interchange is on track for delivery in the first quarter of 2026 and will ease traffic to the Dangote Refinery and the adjoining port corridor.
Umahi also announced the President Tinubu Engineering Mentorship Programme, scheduled to begin in January. The program would hire engineers and technicians from all around the country to work on big projects like the Lagos-Calabar coastal route and the Sokoto-Badagry corridor.
After they finish, participants will get help starting up their businesses by getting the tools they need. This is meant to improve the skills of local engineers and reduce the need for international experts.
