Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: May 20 Commissioning Set for Section One
LAGOS — The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has officially fixed May 20, 2026, as the commissioning date for Section One of the landmark Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway. Speaking during a high-stakes inspection over the weekend, Umahi confirmed that the three-kilometre stretch connecting Ahmadu Bello Way to the Lekki corridor is nearing 100% completion. The Federal Government has intensified its engineering offensive to ensure the route opens for seamless transit through Lekki toward the Dangote Refinery axis. Consequently, the Ministry of Works will conduct final consolidation tests in March to certify the road’s structural integrity. This move signals a pivotal milestone for the Tinubu administration’s flagship infrastructure project, which seeks to link the commercial nerve of Lagos to the South-South and South-East regions.
The technical execution of Section One has pushed engineering boundaries, with contractors encountering deep soil pits averaging 18 to 22 metres. Furthermore, the Minister lauded HITECH Construction Company for absorbing these unexpected geological costs without seeking a contract price review. While it is true that difficult terrain initially slowed progress, the project has now reached a critical “consolidation” phase. Indeed, the Minister warned that he will not risk laying the final Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) during the heavy rains of April unless tests prove satisfactory. Notably, the sub-filling for the remaining gaps is expected to conclude within the next seven days, allowing for immediate vehicular access.
The Federal Government has raised a serious alarm over the “satanic” vandalism occurring along the newly constructed corridor. In a related development, Umahi condemned the cutting of aesthetic metal fences and the dumping of refuse into maintenance manholes by residents. Granted, the government has already deployed specialized security patrols, yet the Minister has now constituted a seven-man team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to prosecute offenders. Significantly, the Minister argued that such sabotage endangers lives and increases the maintenance burden on the national treasury. For this reason, security agencies have been directed to arrest and prosecute anyone found defacing the multi-billion-naira infrastructure immediately.
Above all, Umahi linked the project’s success to broader macroeconomic stability, citing a drop in inflation to 15.10% and foreign reserves hitting $49 billion. Subsequently, he issued a “return-to-site” ultimatum to contractors holding Advance Payment Guarantees (APGs) without performing work on other federal projects. Although critics previously questioned the project’s feasibility, the Minister maintained that the stability of the Naira proves the administration’s policy direction is working. Meanwhile, Section Two is projected for delivery by the end of 2025, with all associated bridges slated for completion by April next year. Accordingly, the quest for national renewal continues as the government positions the coastal highway as a non-negotiable economic artery.
Finally, the Ministry has emphasized that the highway will be fully tolled upon its official unveiling to ensure long-term sustainability and maintenance. Therefore, the focus now shifts to the March consolidation tests to determine if the May 20 deadline remains realistic. As a result of this development, the Ahmadu Bello-Lekki axis is set to experience a significant ease in traffic congestion within weeks.