The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has said that Section Two of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to be completed by November, while Section One is substantially completed and ready for inauguration.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the project on Wednesday evening in Lagos, Umahi explained that ongoing structures along the corridor, including flyovers, underpasses and interchanges, are part of Section Two.
“Some of the works you are seeing, such as underpass, overpass and the interchange, belong to Section two,” he said.
“Section one does not have any flyover. You may be asking why we say it is ready while flyover construction is still ongoing. Those works belong to Section two.”
He also disclosed that about 200 metres of pavement were left unfinished due to soil settlement concerns.
“We have been checking settlement there, and it is settling very fast. We do not want to take chances.
If after two weeks we are not satisfied with the settlement, we will put flexible pavement there temporarily for one year before replacing it with rigid concrete pavement,” he said.
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According to him, rigid concrete pavement is not suitable for unstable ground as it may crack.
Umahi said only minor works such as shoulders and landscaping remain on Section One, expressing satisfaction with the quality of work done by Hitech Construction Company.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for driving legacy infrastructure projects across the country, noting that similar works are ongoing in all geopolitical zones.
“We are doing the same in Sokoto, Kebbi, Badagry, Oyo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Jos, Gombe and Biu.
These legacy projects are spread across the six geopolitical zones, and it shows that the President is fair,” he said.
Umahi added that by November, the highway would extend to the Ogun–Lagos border, with construction also advancing along the Ogun–Ondo corridor.
“Before this time next year, motorists will be able to drive all the way to Ondo, while work on the Edo section will commence,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the highway is being built to last between 50 and 100 years.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olufemi Dare, said Section One, measuring 47 kilometres, is 98 per cent completed, with remaining works mainly involving tree planting and walkways.
“I can confidently say that this project is completed and ready for commissioning,” he said.
The Director of Bridges and Design at the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr Musa Saidu, said the project meets all required engineering standards.
“As you can see, from Victoria Island to Chainage 47, engineering-wise, the project is complete.
What remains are aesthetics such as tree planting, solar installations and about 100 metres of continuously reinforced concrete pavement awaiting settlement,” he said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Mrs Moremi Ojudu, described the project as a key economic corridor for the South-West and Nigeria.
Similarly, Mrs Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), commended the Federal Government for inclusive infrastructure development, citing ongoing work on the Trans-Sahara Road.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Mr Akin Alabi, described the project as a long-awaited vision being realised, noting that it was conceived during President Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
Senator Osita Ngwu of the Senate Committee on Works said early doubts about the project had been dispelled by visible progress.
