The federal government has temporarily opened a 47-kilometre section of the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway to ease traffic flow during the Yuletide season.
The newly opened stretch spans from Ahmadu Bello Way junction in Victoria Island to the Eleko junction. The temporary opening was conducted on Friday at a brief ceremony attended by Minister of Works, David Umahi; the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal; Senate Committee on Works Chairman, Barinada Mpigi; Hitech Construction Managing Director, Dany Abboud; Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi; and senior officials of the Ministry of Works.
Olufemi Dare, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, explained that the decision was made to ease holiday traffic. He revealed that the 47km segment was awarded to Hitech Construction Company at a cost of N1.067 trillion, covering rigid pavement dual-carriageway construction, drainages, culverts, median barriers, street lighting, and the relocation of utilities including power lines, ducts, and pipelines.
Dare also noted that the entire Lagos portion of the coastal highway spans 103km. Of this, 30km of continuously reinforced concrete pavement has been completed, while sand filling has been finished on the remaining 17.474km—making the full 47.474km stretch motorable. Section 1 of the project is expected to be fully completed by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Speaking at the event, Minister Umahi dismissed claims that the federal government is focusing solely on the Lagos–Calabar coastal road, stressing that multiple projects are ongoing nationwide. He added that the government welcomes constructive criticism on the project.