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What's Really Happening with the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway?

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Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road: Exposing the Discrepancies

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Nigeria is one of the biggest projects in Africa, and it has the potential to greatly change the transportation system across the continent. In March 2024, during President Bola Tinubu's administration, this massive project began and will cover a distance of 700 kilometers between Lagos and Calabar, costing N4 billion for each kilometer and should be completed after eight years. The development of the highway is not limited to road work; rail lines are being built in the median strips and it will link the major commercial center in Lagos to the region of the Niger Delta. The president, Tinubu, recently commissioned the first stretch of 30 kilometers, starting at Ahmadu Bello Way and going to Eleko Village. This section is seen by officials as genuine development on the trillion-naira project.

Despite the excitement of tours and speeches, a closer look shows a more complicated story that doesn't add up to the official idea of constant improvement. Even as authorities said they would complete Phase 1, Section 1 of the road by the end of May 2025, investigators discovered major differences between the targets and what has been constructed. The building of the project has led to many critical responses, since, by December 2024, 750 structures in settled coastal areas were cleared as it was pushed 100 kilometers further east. Many question the adequacy of paying compensation to the local communities and their level of consultation.

The debate about the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway suggests that many people are concerned about how public funds are used in Nigeria. Field investigation on June 6, 2025, by an investigative journalist from ObjecTV Media indicated that what authorities promised is not what is happening, prompting people to challenge the truthfulness, fairness and efficiency of how public money is spent. This inquiry is crucial now because Nigerian citizens are asking for greater openness about where billions of naira for infrastructure projects have been spent, due to the country's economic problems and multiple development initiatives that require immediate attention and resources.

 

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Project Description and Scope

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is currently being developed as a 700-kilometer project (in 2025) and will connect Victoria Island in Lagos with Calabar in Cross River State. Parts of the highway will be built in Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, making it one of the biggest highway improvements ever in Nigeria.

In March 2024, the construction of the first phase of the project, covering 47.7 kilometers in Lagos from Ahmadu Bello Way, started, and it is anticipated that it will be completed by May 2025. Nigeria's Hitech Construction Company Limited is conducting the project and has been praised for being able to reach international standards.

 

The Commissioning Controversy

The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, officially started the first part of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on May 31, 2025, while government officials mentioned that 30 kilometers had been completed. Still, this claim has led to intense debates and further studies that show the matter is more complicated.

 

Official Claims vs. Ground Reality


Government Position:

The Coastal Highway Phase 1, Section 1 was expected to reach 30 kilometers in completion by May 29, 2025, as per officials' targets.

Minister Umahi stated that the first segment will finish by May 29, 2025 and at that time, tolling will begin to help recoup whatever costs were incurred in construction

Field Investigation Findings: June 6, 2025, a thorough investigation in the field brought to light various concerning issues.

1. Piecemeal Construction: It was revealed that digging takes place in isolated regions rather than uniformly. Engineers who took part in the project admitted, in the field report, that the work includes nearly 20 km in one section and almost another 10 km in a different section, instead of a single 30 km stretch. 

2. Road worked not up to standards at marker 30: When the investigators got to kilometer 30, they discovered the road had not been built to the required specifications. They found out the following:

- Different road elevation levels are not kept to the necessary standards.

- When the material is not compacted enough

- The area does not have concrete pavements.

- Various parts of the area weren't sand-filled well. 

3. Village-by-Village Analysis: Some specific locations were discovered where work still has to be finished.

- Iweleku Village (about 33 kilometers away): Land has been cleared, but there is no sand dumped there yet

- The Iwe Rekun Village dyke is completed with marking and clearance, but the sand inside and the ground consolidation is missing

- Doors were unlocked, transport grounded, radios were turned off, and Iwiriko Palace was not even cleared, let alone developed.

 

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Critical Issues Raised


1. Accessibility and Verification Claims

The investigation leads us to question statements made by various celebrities, such as Reno Omokri, claiming, alongside Professor Soyinka, that he reached the 30-kilometer mark. People who conduct field investigations challenge this opinion by asking:

- How drivers could go to the 30-kilometer point with incomplete roads

- The way students travel to the different locations

- The claimed point at 30-kilometers is along the river in the village.

 

2. Land Acquisition and Resettlement Issues

The project has caused many people to leave their homes, as it led to the demolition of 750 buildings by December 2024 in the state's coastal areas. It reveals some issues with how people are being resettled.

- Original Alignment: The original chosen path was placed in the swamp areas.

- Questions arise as to whether the new path is necessary for geological purposes or if matters of gaining land were involved

- This policy explains that, should technical issues require changes to the route, displaced communities should be resettled where the route originally passed through

 

3. Issues Involved in Toll Implementation

- For the next 5 to 10 years, the highway will include tolls to cover the costs of building it, which is causing concern.

- Griding News seeks to discover the effects of tolls on people who earn the lowest wage in Nigeria, which is about ?70,000 ($43) every month

- There will be several tolling stations between Victoria Island and Eleko.

- Infrastructure paid for with public money requires citizens to pay tolls on it.

 

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4. Standards for Safety and Engineering

It is mentioned in the investigation that road shoulders and safety precautions are cause for concern on this highway because drivers are required to maintain high speeds over a long distance.

 

Conservation and Social Aspect

This project affects the environment, and construction will begin on April 30, 2024, when bulldozers will clear the area around kiosks, restaurants and other places near the Oniru waterfront. Because it goes through sensitive coastal areas, the highway has been said to put sensitive areas for biodiversity at risk.

 

Financial Implications

The project of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is considered one of the biggest infrastructure investments for Nigeria, for $11 billion. The investigation leads to doubts about various questions.

- Is the present rate and outcome of the project something that can be accepted for such a large investment?

- Project information is not available for public review regarding what goals need to be reached and how the project should end.

- The difference between what is stated and what is achieved

 

Political Ramifications

As a result of the controversy, there are major tensions between people who back the government and those who don't.

- Some people argue that official announcements are created to wow rather than educate.

- Using government money on infrastructure to gain political points

- Attempting to stop people from asking about how the project is progressing

 

Recommendations for Stakeholders


For Government Officials:

1. Report clearly how you are doing and show proof at meaningful points throughout the project.

2. Pinpoint the differences between what is said and the real situation

3. Fair policies for displaced communities should be created and implemented in the community.

4. Reconsider placing tolls on the highway because public funds are being used.

 

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For Citizens and Civil Society:

1. Independently watch over the progress of the project.

2. Keep a record of how the progress has been vs. what was promised

3. Tell authorities to ensure that project progress is always transparent.

4. Participate in community events to talk about the most important infrastructure projects.

 

For Media and Commentators:

1. Always check the facts before sharing something on the internet.

2. Go to the place where events unfold and examine the scene firsthand instead of only accepting what the authorities write.

3. Always give readers both sides of the story, while at the same time not compromising the truth.

 

Conclusion

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway shows how much Nigeria wants to improve its roads and the difficulties of managing such work fairly and effectively. This project has a real chance to make improvements in how Nigeria's transportation and economy work, provided there is more honest and open communication about how it develops.

The investigation finds that construction is being done along several segments of the highway, but it is too early to say that 30 kilometers have been completed. Parts of the project are not connected yet, key areas still lack proper infrastructure, and the community has valid concerns that require more attention, so it needs increased supervision and real reporting.

As Nigeria dedicates a lot of funds to infrastructure development, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway can tell us a lot about the main project management, reporting and delivery. The main achievement of the project will come from ensuring the integrity of all the efforts used to complete it.

According to the investigation, proper field visits, regular inspection and being answerable to the public are necessary for genuine results from infrastructure investments in Nigeria. Some projects become truly public-focused only if honesty and clarity are constantly present.