
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.