FG To Open Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway Section In December, Boosting National Infrastructure

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government has announced that the completed portion of Section 1 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will be opened to motorists between December 12 and 17, 2025. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during an inspection of the 700-kilometre project on Sunday.

Umahi stated that Section 1 is almost finished, with only about two kilometres remaining for full completion. He added that the official commissioning of the highway is scheduled for April 2026. During the tour, a total of 47.37 kilometres of the highway were inspected.

The minister commended the pace of work, describing it as encouraging, and explained that construction in certain areas had been intentionally slowed to allow proper subsoil settlement, ensuring the road’s structural stability and durability. He praised Hitech Construction Company for demonstrating exceptional dedication to the project, driven by motives beyond financial incentives.

Regarding funding, Umahi revealed that the foreign loan component for the highway was oversubscribed by $100 million, highlighting strong investor confidence in the project’s economic potential and the ministry’s transparency.

The Managing Director of Hitech, Danny Aboud, noted that sand filling was ongoing in key swamp sections, while 34 to 35 kilometres of concrete reinforced pavement had already been completed.

Beyond Section 1, the minister also inspected a 25-kilometre dual carriageway under construction between Eleko, near Dangote Cement in Ibeju-Lekki, and Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, including a major flyover at Chainage 47.474 linking Sections 1 and 2 of the highway. Umahi reported that 80% of the piling work on the interchange had been completed, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2026. He emphasized that the interchange would significantly improve traffic flow to the Dangote Refinery and nearby port access roads.

In addition, Umahi announced the launch of the President Tinubu Engineering Mentorship Programme, set to begin in January. The initiative aims to recruit civil and electrical engineers, designers, and technicians from across Nigeria, providing hands-on experience on major federal projects including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Coastal Road. Participants will also receive start-up support and equipment upon completion of the programme, a move designed to strengthen local engineering capacity and reduce reliance on foreign expertise.