The Federal Government has announced the commencement of construction on section three of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, starting from Calabar in Cross Rivers State, and section four from Akwa Ibom, pending the completion of the procurement process.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Thursday during a meeting with representatives from communities along the road’s alignment between Eko Atlantic (Chainage Zero) and Eleko (Chainage 47.4 km) in Lagos.
“Let me announce also that Mr President has directed that section three that is starting from Calabar and section four that is starting from Akwa Ibom should commence immediately; and so, we are in the process of concluding the procurement.
“And for those who have been saying why not start these roads in Calabar, one, the zero point is Lagos and what wrong has Lagos done to these people?
“However, an impartial President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has directed that section three and four be started from the end of the project. So while this is moving, the other one will be moving.
“I’m sure that sections five and six will also start in places like Port Harcourt and Bayelsa,” Umahi said.
What you should know
The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, designed to stretch 700 kilometres and pass through nine states, was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Limited on an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) arrangement, where the bulk of the risk falls on the contractor, and the federal government provides counterpart funding.
The Federal Government commenced the construction in March 2024, beginning with the first phase of the project, which stretches 47.47 kilometres from Lagos.
Following public outcry, especially from politicians like Atiku Abubakar, who claimed the project was not intended for completion since it starts from Lagos and not Calabar in Cross River State, Minister of Works, David Umahi clarified that subsequent sections will begin in other states along the route.
The second segment is designed to extend approximately 55 kilometres from the Lekki Deep Seaport—where the first section ends—to the boundary between Ogun and Ondo states. This phase has received approval from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
Umahi earlier revealed that the third section, beginning in Calabar, Cross River State, will start in July, pending finalization and approvals from the BPE and Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Furthermore, other segments of the highway will be constructed independently, including a segment extending from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Bayelsa State and another from Delta State to Ondo State.