Nigeria's Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that the main pavement of the first 105 kilometres of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed by November 2026. He made this disclosure in Abuja while receiving a report from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on the state of federal road projects. Umahi noted that the pace of construction on the coastal highway is unprecedented, with work ongoing on bridges along sections one and two of the project.
Umahi expressed concern over the destruction of infrastructure around the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly at the Apapa axis. He warned that vandalism could undermine the benefits of government's investments in major infrastructure projects. The minister said he was shocked by the extent of damage to infrastructure under the bridge in the area, including the destruction of structural elements and the use of spaces around the bridge by heavy-duty vehicles.
The minister's comments came as NANS presented its findings from the Northwest leg of its inspection of federal road projects across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto states. The students' body said the exercise was designed to physically assess the state of federal road projects, particularly those providing access to tertiary institutions and student communities, and to provide feedback based on firsthand observations.
NANS inspected several roads, including the Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano-Maiduguri Road, Kano-Katsina Road, Kaduna-Kano Road, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, Zaria-Funtua-Sokoto Road, Mando-Birnin Gwari Road, Sokoto-Badagry Road, and Illela-Dukamaje Road. The students' body aimed to provide an independent assessment of the state of federal roads and their impact on students and communities.
Umahi reiterated the commitment of the federal government to completing ongoing road projects across the country. He said President Bola Tinubu was determined to see the projects through to completion. The minister expressed optimism that all ongoing projects would be completed, citing examples of completed and ongoing projects across the country.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a major infrastructure project aimed at improving transportation and economic development in Nigeria. The project has faced several challenges, including delays and vandalism. Umahi's comments suggest that the government is committed to addressing these challenges and ensuring the project's completion.
The federal government's efforts to complete ongoing road projects are part of a broader strategy to improve infrastructure and stimulate economic growth. The completion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to have a significant impact on the economy, improving transportation links and facilitating trade and commerce.
Key points
- The 105km pavement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is set for completion by November 2026.
- Umahi expresses concern over vandalism of public infrastructure along the project corridor.
- The federal government is committed to completing ongoing road projects across the country.
