Abuja:The Federal Government has confirmed that construction of the 750-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is proceeding as planned. This announcement counters claims that the project has been sidelined in favor of the East-West Road.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, provided updates on the project during a briefing at the State House. He stated that construction is actively underway on several sections of the highway, ensuring the project remains on track as designed.
Sen. Umahi highlighted that Section One of the highway, spanning 147.47 kilometers in Lagos, is being fully constructed. Section Two, which covers 55 kilometers, is anticipated to be completed by mid-November. Additionally, significant progress has been made on Sections Three A and Three B, totaling about 75 kilometers in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, with over 40 percent completion.
Construction is also advancing on Sections Four A and Four B, covering 65 kilometers across Ogun and Ondo states, as well as on Section Five, which spans 62.5 kilometers in Akwa Ibom, where work is more than 20 percent complete within a three-month period.
The ministry is seeking President Bola Tinubu’s approval to integrate approximately 400 kilometers of the East-West Road into the current infrastructure development program. This integration aims to address flood-damaged sections in Delta and Edo, enhancing connectivity across Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
Sen. Umahi emphasized that the development of the East-West Road will supplement, not replace, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He assured that the coastal highway remains a significant federal infrastructure project, with ongoing surveys and design work along its route to ensure its completion and integration with other regional projects.