Federal Government Reroutes Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to Protect Subsea Cables
The Federal Government has announced a reroute of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to prevent potential damage to subsea cables owned by telecommunication companies. Additionally, the project’s scale has been reduced from 10 lanes to six as a cost-saving measure.
Project Adjustments and Compensation
David Umahi, the Minister of Works, disclosed these updates during a meeting with contractors in Abuja. He stated that the government has disbursed N10 billion in compensation to property owners affected by the demolition required for the 700km highway’s construction. The initial 47 kilometers of the project are expected to open to the public by May next year.
Construction of the highway, which spans nine states with two spurs extending to northern states, began earlier this year using concrete pavement. A committee was established to review, assess, and compensate landowners affected by the expressway’s construction. On May 1st, the government started distributing N2.75 billion to affected property owners.
Rerouting and Progress
Section one of the highway will commence at Eko Atlantic and end at the Lekki deep sea port. Minister Umahi explained, “We have cut down the project size to six lanes, especially from sections two, three, and four. Some people have been writing that we have stopped the project. No project is stopped. Over four kilometers of concrete road has been completed on six lanes.”
Due to complaints from MTN regarding its subsea cable and concerns from the Okuaja community, the highway was rerouted to avoid these areas. The alignment was adjusted at kilometer 25, allowing construction to proceed smoothly. Umahi commended the contractor for their excellent work and commitment.
Investment and Future Plans
Umahi highlighted the highway’s potential as an investment, predicting that the cost would be recovered within ten years through tourism, factories, and industries along the route. “By May 29, 2025, we will have completed section one of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway,” he said.
Final designs for sections three and four are nearly complete, with stakeholder engagement planned in Cross River or Akwa Ibom to ensure proper procurement.
Financial Challenges and Project Management
The minister acknowledged financial constraints, noting that the government inherited over 2,600 projects valued at N15 trillion. Additionally, the government initiated 330 emergency projects totaling N260 billion, with over 80 percent already completed. Umahi emphasized that the ministry would no longer allow contractors to determine project costs through excessive price variations.
Other Infrastructure Updates
Julius Berger is set to resume construction on the remaining section of the Abuja-Kano highway after resolving previous challenges. “I commend Julius Berger very highly. Some of you thought we were going to be quarrelling but yesterday we resolved a lot of our issues and by this week, the Abuja-Kano work will resume,” Umahi stated.
Regarding the recently flooded Kara bridge, Umahi confirmed that the issue has been rectified. The installation of CCTV on the bridge is nearing completion to enhance security and response times.
The Federal Government’s proactive measures and strategic adjustments aim to ensure the successful completion and sustainability of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a key infrastructure project with significant economic potential.
