First phase of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway ready in May, Umahi

First phase of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway ready in May, Umahi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, covering 47.7km from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos will be completed by May 2025, assuring that the whole 750km project will be completed before the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term in office.

Umahi gave this assurance on Tuesday during the signing of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance (EPC+F) contract for the project between the Federal Government and Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Ltd. He said each kilometer of the highway costs N4b.

He said the administration is committed to delivering the mega infrastructure project, which he described as the “biggest ever known in Africa,” within Tinubu’s tenure.

Umahi stressed that the project, envisioned 27 years ago, is now becoming a reality under the Renewed Hope agenda.

“It is a wonderful thing to witness this and to be part of it. We will continue to pray for Mr President, we will continue to support him, and we must continue to say that, given the two tenures of Mr President, Nigerians are assured that the entire 750 kilometres will be fully completed before he leaves office. And God, who started this, will see it to completion,” Umahi stated.

He further explained that the project, initiated in March 2024, is structured under an EPC+F model, allowing Hitech Construction to secure foreign investments in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance

The minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to fast-tracking the project, ensuring it meets global standards and serves as a catalyst for economic growth along Nigeria’s coastal corridor.

He said, “The beauty of it is that the ‘F’ component of EPC+F is now being fulfilled. By signing this contract, we are paving the way for the contractor, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, to secure foreign investment for the project. The Federal Government’s commitment is 30 per cent counterpart funding, which the President is fulfilling.”

“And now, with the foreign financing component in place, the project’s execution will be accelerated. I am pleased with Hitech’s performance, the quality of work, and the speed of construction. If not for the need to settle a substantial fee, we would have been able to commission the entire first section within a year, even though the project is scheduled for 36 months.”