Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to be completed in three years, Umahi says 

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has mentioned the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed in simply over three years. 

The minister disclosed this throughout an interview with Arise News on Friday, October 23, 2026. 

The dedication places the landmark infrastructure mission heading in the right direction for completion earlier than 2031, probably earlier than the top of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure if he wins a second time period. 

Umahi expressed confidence that the Federal Government would ship the complete freeway regardless of the engineering challenges posed by sections of the route by the Niger Delta. He mentioned building had superior throughout a number of sections, though work and design actions had been nonetheless ongoing in some states. 

Umahi Sets Three-Year Highway Completion Target 

Umahi mentioned the Federal Government had made appreciable progress on 5 of the freeway’s 9 sections in simply over two years, with Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo nonetheless to be coated. 

He mentioned the federal government was assured of finishing the mission throughout the subsequent three years and past, regardless of work persevering with on some sections. 

• “I believe that within the next three years plus, the President will complete the project,” Umahi mentioned. 
• “We already have five sections running. We’re only left with Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo. We have done five out of nine.” 

He added that Sections One, Three and Five had been nonetheless ongoing, however that sand-filling had superior considerably, describing it as a significant a part of the development course of. 

The minister mentioned building had commenced from each the Lagos and Calabar ends, with a number of sections awarded and work underway. However, engineering design and soil investigations had been nonetheless being carried out for some sections in the Niger Delta. 

Umahi mentioned the freeway was being designed, procured and constructed part by part somewhat than underneath one engineering design masking the complete 750 kilometres. 

• “There is no one single design for the 750 km of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” he mentioned. 

Highway Design Continues Across Niger Delta 

According to Umahi, the freeway was initially conceived as an idea somewhat than a totally completed engineering design. This meant environmental assessments, soil investigations and detailed engineering work had to be carried out as particular person sections had been developed. 

He mentioned design work was ongoing for the Edo, Delta and Bayelsa sections, whereas engineering assessments of adverse terrain would decide the ultimate route alignment, bridges and different constructions required alongside the hall. 

• The minister outlined the sequence of building throughout the freeway’s sections. 
• He mentioned work had commenced on Sections One and Two in Lagos earlier than progressing to Sections 3A and 3B in Cross River and Akwa Ibom. 
• Sections 4A and 4B cowl the Ogun and Ondo axis, in accordance to the minister. 
• Section Five, measuring roughly 82.35 kilometres, is solely inside Akwa Ibom State. 

Umahi’s feedback spotlight the technical work required to ship the coastal street throughout a number of states, significantly the place soil circumstances and troublesome terrain affect the design and building course of. 

What it is best to know 

The minister’s newest completion dedication represents a shorter timeline than an earlier projection for the mission. 

In September 2024, Umahi was reportedly quoted as saying that the complete freeway would take about eight years to full after building started in March of that yr. 

• Since then, building has superior throughout a number of sections, though work stays ongoing in some areas and design actions proceed in components of the Niger Delta. 
• In July 2026, Umahi and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu additionally dismissed claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was liable for flooding in components of Lagos, describing the allegations circulating on social media as misinformation. 
• The clarification adopted reviews linking the freeway to flooding across the Lekki axis and got here throughout a courtesy go to by the works minister and members of the National Assembly to the Lagos governor. 
• Sanwo-Olu mentioned the freeway, which some had initially dismissed as a political promise, had change into a actuality. 

Umahi’s newest pledge locations renewed deal with the federal government’s supply timeline, with the completion of the remaining sections and ongoing engineering work seemingly to be central to assembly the goal.