Minister of Works David Umahi has challenged the ₦15 trillion estimate for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing that the project’s total cost cannot be accurately determined by applying a uniform rate to every section of the 750-kilometre route.
Umahi said the highway passes through areas with different terrain, soil conditions and environmental challenges, requiring separate engineering designs and technical assessments before the cost of each section can be established.
The minister made the remarks during an interview with ARISE News anchor Ojy Okpe, where he addressed concerns over the project’s cost, environmental approvals and proposed alignment through the Niger Delta.
“There is no one single design for the 750 km of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” Umahi said.
He explained that although the highway had been conceived and gazetted before the current administration, a comprehensive engineering design covering the entire route from Lagos to Calabar had not been completed at the time.
According to him, the concept dates back to 2006, but construction requires detailed technical studies for individual sections before work can proceed.
Umahi said the process involves soil investigations, engineering designs and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), which help determine the specific requirements and costs of each stretch.
Questioning the basis of the ₦15 trillion estimate, the minister asked, “Who fixed the ₦15 trillion?”
He maintained that differences in bridges, drainage systems, soil conditions and other construction requirements make it inappropriate to calculate the total project cost by multiplying the cost of the section under construction in Lagos across the entire route.
Umahi added that the Federal Government was procuring the highway in phases, with the cost of each section depending on its design and engineering requirements.
On environmental approvals, the minister rejected suggestions that a single assessment covering the entire 750-kilometre route must be completed before construction can begin on any section.
“There is no single ESIA for the entire 750 kilometres,” he said, explaining that assessments were being conducted in phases according to the sections scheduled for development.
He also maintained that Section One had received its full environmental assessment, while the government was continuing with the required procedures for other sections.
The project’s environmental approval process has attracted public attention since construction began in 2024. The Federal Ministry of Environment issued notices for public display of draft environmental assessment reports for Sections One and Two in August and October 2024, respectively, allowing members of the public to review the proposals and submit comments.
The highway’s alignment through the Niger Delta has also generated debate, particularly following reports that parts of the existing East-West Road could be incorporated into the government’s infrastructure plans instead of constructing an entirely new route along the affected stretch.
Umahi insisted that the government had not abandoned the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He explained that plans to reconstruct approximately 400 kilometres of the East-West Road constituted an additional infrastructure project intended to address flooding and improve road conditions across the Niger Delta.
According to the minister, some portions of the existing road have suffered flood-related damage, making reconstruction and the elevation of vulnerable sections necessary to improve resilience and transportation.
Despite the clarification, questions remain about the highway’s overall cost, engineering plans and implementation.
In a related development, the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation called for an independent audit of the project. The group also urged the Federal Government to publish engineering assessments, alternative-route studies, cost implications and records of payments made.
