President Bola Tinubu to Inaugurate Section I of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on May 31
Lagos, May 27, 2025 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to inaugurate Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on Saturday, May 31, 2025, during his working visit to Lagos. This milestone marks a significant step in Nigeria’s largest coastal infrastructure project, designed to enhance regional connectivity and economic growth along the southern coast.
Project Overview and Progress
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700-kilometer, multi-state project running from Victoria Island, Lagos, through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and ending in Calabar, Cross River State. Construction began in March 2024, with the first phase covering approximately 47.47 kilometers from Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island to Eleko Junction near the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos.
As of May 2025, over 80% of Section I has been completed, including 30 kilometers of six-lane, concrete-paved highway with solar-powered street lighting and CCTV infrastructure. The project features a robust concrete thickness of 280 millimeters, exceeding design specifications to ensure durability.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, confirmed that the first phase is projected to be fully completed by January 2026, with the inauguration marking a major milestone ahead of schedule. The contractor, Hitech Construction Company, has been praised for quality and timely delivery.
Economic and Regional Impact
The highway is more than a road; it is an economic corridor expected to catalyze regional development, boost trade, tourism, and ease transportation bottlenecks along Nigeria’s southern coast. It connects major commercial hubs and port facilities, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, facilitating smoother movement of goods and people.
The project is also designed with sustainability in mind, featuring solar-powered lighting and offering carbon credit advantages, aligning with Nigeria’s environmental commitments.
Tolling and Future Phases
The government plans to commence tolling on Section I from December 2025, projecting a 10-year return on investment. Construction on subsequent sections is underway, including Section II (55 kilometers from Eleko Junction to the Lagos-Ogun border) and Sections 3 and 3B covering parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
Preparations are also in progress for further expansion, with construction flagged off in Cross River and Akwa Ibom in April 2025.
Challenges and Community Engagement
The project has involved significant land acquisition and the demolition of over 750 structures along the corridor, prompting government compensation payments exceeding N15 billion to affected property owners. Authorities have engaged host communities to address concerns and ensure inclusive development.
Environmental assessments have raised concerns due to the highway passing near biodiversity hotspots, including habitats of endangered species like the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. The government has pledged to implement mitigation measures to minimize ecological impact.
Related Developments
The inauguration coincides with President Tinubu’s participation in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Lagos, underscoring Nigeria’s role in regional integration.
