The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has announced that the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed and open for tolling by December 2025.
Umahi disclosed this during an interview for a State House documentary commemorating President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
“By December, we will toll Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. We project a 10-year return on investment,” Umahi said.
He described the highway as more than just a road, highlighting its advanced features: “The road has solar-powered lighting and CCTV infrastructure, and offers carbon credit advantages. It is more than a road; it is an economic corridor and a catalyst for regional growth.”
The minister provided updates on construction progress, stating, “We have completed 30 kilometres of Section 1 and are on track to complete an additional 10 in Section 2. These are six-lane, concrete-paved highways.”
He also confirmed the commencement of work on new sections: “Just days ago, we flagged off Sections 3 and 3B—65 kilometres in total—covering 38 kilometres in Cross River State and 27 kilometres in Akwa Ibom. The host communities’ excitement speaks to these projects’ transformative impact.”
On the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Umahi linked the project to historical trade routes: “The Trans-Saharan trade route dates back to colonial-era planning. President Tinubu is now bringing these long-abandoned visions to life.”
Turning to politics, the minister claimed unanimous support for Tinubu among South-East governors ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also revealed plans for a regional summit: “All the South-East governors are supporting and working for the re-election of President Tinubu. Plans are underway to organise a summit that would bring together leaders from the South-East, including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, to endorse President Tinubu for the 2027 elections.”
