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

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway can be finished in simply over 3 years. 

The minister disclosed this all the way through an interview with Rise up Information on Friday, October 23, 2026. 

The dedication places the landmark infrastructure venture on track for of completion earlier than 2031, probably earlier than the tip of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure if he wins a 2d time period. 

Umahi expressed self belief that the Federal Govt would ship all of the freeway in spite of the engineering demanding situations posed through sections of the direction in the course of the Niger Delta. He stated building had complex throughout a number of sections, even if paintings and design actions had been nonetheless ongoing in some states. 

Umahi Units 3-12 months Freeway Final touch Goal 

Umahi stated the Federal Govt had made really extensive development on 5 of the freeway’s 9 sections in simply over two years, with Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo nonetheless to be coated. 

He stated the federal government was once assured of finishing the venture throughout the subsequent 3 years and past, in spite of paintings proceeding on some sections. 

• “I imagine that throughout the subsequent 3 years plus, the President will whole the venture,” Umahi stated. 
• “We have already got 5 sections operating. We’re most effective left with Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Edo. We’ve performed 5 out of 9.” 

He added that Sections One, 3 and 5 had been nonetheless ongoing, however that sand-filling had complex considerably, describing it as a significant a part of the development procedure. 

The minister stated building had commenced from each the Lagos and Calabar ends, with a number of sections awarded and paintings underway. Then again, engineering design and soil investigations had been nonetheless being performed for some sections within the Niger Delta. 

Umahi stated the freeway was once being designed, procured and built segment through segment relatively than underneath one engineering design overlaying all of the 750 kilometres. 

• “There is not any one unmarried design for the 750 km of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway,” he stated. 

Freeway Design Continues Throughout Niger Delta 

In step with Umahi, the freeway was once first of all conceived as an idea relatively than an absolutely finished engineering design. This supposed environmental exams, soil investigations and detailed engineering paintings needed to be performed as particular person sections had been advanced. 

He stated design paintings was once ongoing for the Edo, Delta and Bayelsa sections, whilst engineering exams of adverse terrain would resolve the general direction alignment, bridges and different buildings required alongside the hall. 

• The minister defined the series of building around the freeway’s sections. 
• He stated paintings had commenced on Sections One and Two in Lagos earlier than progressing to Sections 3A and 3B in Pass River and Akwa Ibom. 
• Sections 4A and 4B quilt the Ogun and Ondo axis, in step with the minister. 
• Segment 5, measuring roughly 82.35 kilometres, is completely inside of Akwa Ibom State. 

Umahi’s feedback spotlight the technical paintings required to ship the coastal street throughout a number of states, in particular the place soil prerequisites and tough terrain affect the design and building procedure. 

What you will have to know 

The minister’s newest of completion dedication represents a shorter timeline than an previous projection for the venture. 

In September 2024, Umahi was reportedly quoted as announcing that all of the freeway would take about 8 years to finish after building started in March of that 12 months. 

• Since then, building has complex throughout a number of sections, even if paintings stays ongoing in some places and design actions proceed in portions of the Niger Delta. 
• In July 2026, Umahi and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu additionally pushed aside claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway was once liable for flooding in portions of Lagos, describing the allegations circulating on social media as incorrect information. 
• The explanation adopted studies linking the freeway to flooding across the Lekki axis and got here all the way through a courtesy seek advice from through the works minister and contributors of the Nationwide Meeting to the Lagos governor. 
• Sanwo-Olu stated the freeway, which some had first of all pushed aside as a political promise, had transform a truth. 

Umahi’s newest pledge puts renewed focal point at the govt’s supply timeline, with the of completion of the remainder sections and ongoing engineering paintings more likely to be central to assembly the objective.