The federal government’s decision to shift a portion of the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway onto the East‑West Road corridor has been justified by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, as an engineering move aimed at curbing costs and safeguarding public funds. The rerouting, which impacts Sections 4A and 4B, covers roughly 67 km across Ogun and Ondo states and is intended to avoid terrain that would have dramatically inflated the project budget.
**Key facts**
- The highway project is budgeted at **$747 million**, up from an earlier estimate of $700 million, after an additional $47 million external loan was approved in 2025.
- Over **40 km** of the road have been completed, with the federal government having invested “hundreds of billions” of naira to date.
- **Section 1**, a 47.47‑km stretch from Victoria Island, Lagos, is finished and ready for commissioning.
- **Section 2**, a 55‑km dual‑carriageway ending at the Lagos‑Ogun boundary, is slated for completion next month, including a redesigned 86‑metre bridge to serve the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport.
- Umahi emphasized that the original alignment through Ondo State would have required excavation of pits over 100 metres deep and the procurement of sharp sand unavailable in the required quantities, which would have driven up costs per kilometre.
Why was the route changed?
Umahi explained that the terrain along the initial alignment was unsuitable for conventional roadwork because of deep pits and a lack of appropriate sharp sand for filling and stabilisation. “You want me to pass through a terrain that is over 100 metres of pits deep, and I have no defined sharp sand up to 300 metres, and you expect the cost of one kilometre to be the same as a road on normal terrain?” he asked during a press briefing.
To address the issue, the Ministry of Works undertook a detour, filling more than 10 metres (30 feet) of problematic ground with sharp sand – a process that is now nearing completion.
What sections are complete or near completion?
- **Section 1** (Victoria Island to the Lagos‑Ogun boundary) is fully built and awaiting commissioning.
- **Section 2** will be finished next month, featuring newly designed flyovers, overpasses and an 86‑metre‑span bridge with 43‑metre counterforts to accommodate refinery trucks and resolve traffic conflicts near the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport.
- **Sections 3A and 3B** at the Calabar end, totaling 65 km, have achieved more than 30 % progress.
- **Section 5**, an 82‑km dual carriageway in Akwa Ibom State, is under construction, as is an 88‑km link from Calabar to Ebidi Beach intended to connect with the Trans‑Saharan route.
What concerns have experts raised?
Engineering professionals have questioned whether comprehensive feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments were carried out before the original alignment was approved. Engr. Akintayo Akintola, former chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Ikeja branch, warned that the proposed elevated embankments could disrupt natural drainage patterns, potentially affecting coastal communities. He also highlighted the need for clear tolling policies to ensure the highway remains accessible to all road users.
Engr. Abbas Mohammed, another former NSE chairman, acknowledged that while the rerouting may correct earlier planning oversights, thorough geological and hydrological investigations are essential for projects of this magnitude. He noted that unforeseen challenges are common, but flexibility and alternative engineering solutions are vital.
What potential benefits does the inland route offer?
Transportation safety analyst Patrick Adenusi suggested that moving the highway inland could lower construction costs, stimulate economic activity in smaller towns along the new corridor, and improve emergency response capabilities. He reiterated that feasibility studies should precede major infrastructure works, but affirmed that the current adjustment could yield long‑term advantages for commuters and host communities.
The Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway remains a flagship initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, aimed at easing travel between Lagos and Calabar and boosting regional integration across the southern corridor of Nigeria.