FG announces commencement of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction 

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.

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.