The Federal Government's decision to reroute sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway through the existing East-West Road has raised questions about the procurement, engineering assessments, and environmental reviews of the multitrillion-naira project. The 700-kilometre highway, estimated to cost N15 trillion, began in March 2024 and aims to connect coastal communities from Lagos through the South-West and South-South regions.
The project, led by Minister of Works Dave Umahi, was directed by President Bola Tinubu to follow the existing East-West Road from Ondo into Edo State rather than create a new alignment along the corridor. This directive follows earlier realignments in Ondo State, where difficult terrain and unsuitable soil conditions made the original route more expensive and technically challenging to construct.
According to Umahi, the original alignment crossed pits over 100 metres deep and areas where suitable sharp sand was unavailable for construction at depths of up to 300 metres. The Ondo-Edo corridor, including a 45-kilometre Benin bypass, measures 104 kilometres. The changes have caused fresh scrutiny of whether sufficient feasibility studies were conducted before construction and if the original procurement process adequately assessed the project's technical challenges.
The Ilaje Omuro Community Connect has expressed concerns that the realignment could deny the Ilaje people access to the economic benefits of the highway. The group questions the engineering, geological, environmental, or financial considerations that make the proposed coastal highway route impracticable. The Environmental Impact Assessment Act provides for environmental effects to be assessed before a project proponent makes a final decision to proceed or begins physical work.
The Federal Ministry of Environment published draft environmental and social impact assessment reports for the first two Lagos sections in 2024. However, Donald Duke, former Cross River governor, has questioned the practicality of building a continuous coastal route through swampy terrain, citing extensive bridge construction requirements. An infrastructure analyst linked the controversy to the project's procurement and environmental assessment processes.
The analyst noted that proper bidding would have detected the Ondo axis before the project was awarded. The Federal government used restrictive bidding for the selection of Hitech Construction Company Ltd. as the contractor. Alli-Balogun Lekan, a public affairs analyst, said adjustments were normal in large infrastructure projects as construction teams encountered conditions on the ground.
The highway faces challenges in protecting infrastructure already built, with at least five kilometres of ClearVu fencing and about 18 kilometres of concrete covers removed from the Lagos section due to vandalism. The development has raised concerns about protecting public assets as construction extends into less populated areas.
Key points
- The Lagos-Calabar highway project has been rerouted due to technical challenges and high costs.
- The project's procurement and environmental assessment processes have been questioned.
- The highway's construction faces challenges, including vandalism and protecting existing infrastructure.
