Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction begins in Nigeria

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700-kilometer superhighway project designed to connect nine coastal states in Nigeria, spanning from Victoria Island, Lagos, to Calabar, Cross River State. The project, valued at approximately N15.36 trillion, is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by the Federal Ministry of Works.

While the concept for a southern coastal transport link dates back to 1955, active construction officially commenced in March 2024 following the flag-off by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The highway is intended to link Nigeria’s commercial capital in the southwest with the maritime and industrial hubs of the Niger Delta and South-South regions, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states.

Proponents view the highway as a catalyst for regional trade, tourism, and economic transformation. However, the project has faced scrutiny regarding financial transparency, environmental accountability, and legal disputes over land rights and compensation for displaced property owners along the designated route.