The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has outlined the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project as a vital corridor for transporting cargo and serving Nigeria’s deep seaports.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with stakeholders on the Lagos Coastal Road project, Umahi emphasized that the highway will enhance connectivity to the nation’s free trade zones, deep seaports, and the Dangote refinery, ultimately strengthening Nigeria’s logistics network.
According to the minister, this ambitious project addresses critical bottlenecks at Apapa Wharf, where shallow berths limit cargo handling and lead to costly operations.
He noted that “the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to alleviate congestion at Apapa by providing alternative access for heavy cargo,” highlighting its importance in reducing financial losses from trans-loading processes and inefficiencies.
Umahi also stressed the significance of the ongoing seven-axle road, which will streamline the movement of goods from major industrial sites such as the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plant, located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
“This infrastructure will be instrumental in connecting to key routes like the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, enhancing supply chains and ensuring smooth logistics across the North, South-West, South-South, and South-East regions,” he stated.
In addition, the Lagos-Calabar project aims to tap into renewable energy resources along the coastal corridor. The project team envisions using wind energy to support the infrastructure, further boosting sustainability in Nigeria’s transport network.
The minister highlighted that the 700-kilometer highway spans nine states and is expected to significantly improve connectivity and drive economic growth across the coastline.
Awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd., the project operates under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) model.
Under this arrangement, the contractor takes on the majority of financial and construction risks, with the federal government offering counterpart funding.
Umahi concluded by sharing that the eight-year project timeline includes simultaneous starts on multiple sections as soon as procurement and regulatory processes are finalized, ensuring rapid progress and minimizing delays.
