Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the commencement of construction work at the Calabar and Akwa Ibom sections of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
This development was announced by the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi in Lagos during a meeting with representatives from communities along the road’s alignment between Eko Atlantic (designated as Chainage Zero) and Eleko (designated as Chainage 47.4 km) in Lagos.
The Minister said that construction on section three of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, which starts from Calabar in Cross Rivers State, and section four, which starts from Akwa Ibom, will commence immediately once the procurement process is completed by July.
“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”, the Minister announced.
“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 added.
Construction on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project commenced in March 2024 with the first section of phase 1 of the road, which stretches 47.47 kilometres from Victoria Island towards Lekki Deep Sea port in Lagos. The second section in phase 1 is a 55 kilometres stretch from the Lekki Deep Seaports to the boundary between Ogun and Ondo states and which has received approval from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
Other sections of the coastal highway will run between Ondo and Delta States; Delta to Bayelsa State; Bayelsa to Port Harcourt in Rivers State and then Port Harcourt to Akwa Ibom.