Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has defended the estimated ₦1.067 trillion cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway’s first section, describing it as justified and even “undervalued” by international standards.
Speaking to journalists in a detailed session, Umahi explained that the 47.47-kilometre stretch of the 700-kilometre mega project will feature six lanes, flyovers, underpasses, and extensive shoreline protection.
“A standard coastal road is going for ₦7.5 billion per kilometre of standard highway,” he said. “That includes fillings, shore protections, solar lighting throughout, and planting of trees.”
The minister clarified that the ₦7.5 billion figure was derived by dividing the total ₦1.067 trillion cost by the stretch’s length and lane equivalence. “When you divide ₦1.067 trillion by 47.47 kilometres and by two lanes, you get about ₦7.5 billion per kilometre of standard highway,” he explained.
Concrete Roads and Global Comparison
Umahi argued that critics have failed to account for the project’s complexity and the choice of concrete pavement over asphalt. He maintained that reinforced concrete—though capital intensive—offers far greater durability, reducing long-term maintenance costs.
“Five years ago, one cubic metre of concrete under the last administration cost ₦729,000. We started this project with ₦350,000 per cubic metre,” he said. “So, leave out the president or any other person—hold me accountable, ask me questions, come for debate.”
He described the challenging terrain the project traverses, with engineers encountering pits as deep as 20 metres. “We removed and refilled them in layers before laying concrete. At kilometre 32, we encountered another of such pits,” he said.
According to Umahi, the project’s cost includes not just the highway itself but also critical features such as shoreline protection, solar-powered street lighting, concrete retaining walls, and landscaping—elements that meet global coastal road standards.
Foreign Endorsements and Funding Confidence
The minister said the project had been vetted and endorsed by international financial institutions, including a Dutch bank that led the review process.
“The Dutch bank and its partners said the project was undervalued. When it was time to fund the 70% loan component, the project was oversubscribed by $100 million,” Umahi stated.
He also argued that such international confidence proves that the project is both viable and transparent. “If the financial institutions can give us this credit, we are ready to face anybody. But when you criticise, be objective and tell the public the truth,” he said.
Transparency, Trust, and Tinubu’s Vision
Umahi emphasised that both he and President Bola Tinubu were committed to openness and accountability in delivering the highway, which will connect major coastal cities and stimulate trade, tourism, and logistics across Nigeria’s southern corridor.
The Lagos-Calabar project—initially conceived under former President Goodluck Jonathan—has been revived under Tinubu’s administration with an expanded scope, including economic corridors and access roads to deep seaports.
Umahi insists the project will “speak for itself in quality, longevity, and economic impact.“
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