Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway can be accomplished in simply over three years.
The minister disclosed this throughout an interview with Arise News on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The dedication places the landmark infrastructure mission on the right track for completion earlier than 2031, probably earlier than the tip of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure if he wins a second time period.
Umahi expressed confidence that the Federal Government would ship the complete freeway regardless of the engineering challenges posed by sections of the route via the Niger Delta. He stated development had superior throughout a number of sections, though work and design actions have been nonetheless ongoing in some states.
Umahi Sets Three-Year Highway Completion Target
Umahi stated the Federal Government had made appreciable progress on 5 of the freeway’s 9 sections in simply over two years, with Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo nonetheless to be coated.
He stated the federal government was assured of finishing the mission inside the subsequent three years and past, regardless of work persevering with on some sections.
- “I believe that within the next three years plus, the President will complete the project,” Umahi stated.
- “We already have five sections running. We’re only left with Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo. We have done five out of nine.”
He added that Sections One, Three and Five have been nonetheless ongoing, however that sand-filling had superior considerably, describing it as a serious a part of the development course of.
The minister stated development had commenced from each the Lagos and Calabar ends, with a number of sections awarded and work underway. However, engineering design and soil investigations have been nonetheless being carried out for some sections in the Niger Delta.
Umahi stated the freeway was being designed, procured and constructed part by part slightly than underneath one engineering design protecting the complete 750 kilometres.
- “There is no one single design for the 750 km of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” he stated.
Highway Design Continues Across Niger Delta
According to Umahi, the freeway was initially conceived as an idea slightly than a completely accomplished engineering design. This meant environmental assessments, soil investigations and detailed engineering work had to be carried out as particular person sections have been developed.
He stated design work was ongoing for the Edo, Delta and Bayelsa sections, whereas engineering assessments of inauspicious terrain would decide the ultimate route alignment, bridges and different buildings required alongside the hall.
- The minister outlined the sequence of development throughout the freeway’s sections.
- He stated work had commenced on Sections One and Two in Lagos earlier than progressing to Sections 3A and 3B in Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
- Sections 4A and 4B cowl the Ogun and Ondo axis, in accordance to the minister.
- Section Five, measuring roughly 82.35 kilometres, is totally inside Akwa Ibom State.
Umahi’s feedback spotlight the technical work required to ship the coastal street throughout a number of states, significantly the place soil circumstances and tough terrain affect the design and development course of.
What you must know
The minister’s newest completion dedication represents a shorter timeline than an earlier projection for the mission.
In September 2024, Umahi was reportedly quoted as saying that the complete freeway would take about eight years to full after development started in March of that 12 months.
- Since then, development has superior throughout a number of sections, though work stays ongoing in some areas and design actions proceed in elements of the Niger Delta.
- In July 2026, Umahi and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu additionally dismissed claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was chargeable for flooding in elements of Lagos, describing the allegations circulating on social media as misinformation.
- The clarification adopted stories linking the freeway to flooding across the Lekki axis and got here throughout a courtesy go to by the works minister and members of the National Assembly to the Lagos governor.
- Sanwo-Olu stated the freeway, which some had initially dismissed as a political promise, had grow to be a actuality.
Umahi’s newest pledge locations renewed deal with the federal government’s supply timeline, with the completion of the remaining sections and ongoing engineering work doubtless to be central to assembly the goal.
