The federal government has temporarily reopened a portion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to traffic.
The 47-kilometre section runs from the Ahmadu Bello Way junction in Victoria Island to the Eleko junction and was made accessible on Friday following a brief ceremony attended by key officials, including David Umahi, Minister of Works; Gbolahan Lawal, Oniru of Iruland; Barinada Mpigi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works; Dany Abboud, MD of Hitech Construction; Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, and other representatives from the Ministry of Works.
According to Olufemi Dare, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, the temporary opening was aimed at easing traffic congestion during the Yuletide season.
The road section, awarded to Hitech Construction Company for N1.067 trillion, includes the construction of a rigid pavement dual-carriage highway with drainages, culverts, median barriers, street lighting, and the relocation of public utilities such as electric cables, poles, cable ducts, gas, and water pipelines.
Dare stated that the Lagos-bound portion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway totals 103 km, adding that 30 km of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) has already been completed, while sand filling has been done on the remaining 17.474 km, making the full 47.474 km stretch motorable. He projected that Section 1 will be fully completed by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Speaking at the event, Minister Umahi denied claims that the federal government is focusing solely on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, noting that several other projects are currently underway. He also welcomed constructive criticism on the ongoing works.
