Lagos-Calabar Highway will be completed in Tinubu’s second term according to Dave Umahi, minister of works
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has assured that the ambitious 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway 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.
According to Umahi, the administration is committed to delivering the mega infrastructure project, which he described as the “biggest ever known in Africa,” within Tinubu’s tenure.
He 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 Federal Government has committed to providing 30% counterpart funding, while foreign financing will cover the remaining cost.
The first phase of the highway, covering 47.7km from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos, is expected to be completed by May 2025. Umahi also disclosed that each kilometre of the road would cost approximately N4 billion.
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.”
