The Federal Government has altered parts of the alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with President Bola Tinubu directing the Ministry of Works to route the continuation of the project through the existing East-West Road rather than construct an entirely new alignment through parts of the Ondo-Edo axis.
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Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who disclosed the development while giving an update on the Federal Government’s major road projects, said the decision was driven by difficult terrain, rising construction costs and the need to address persistent flooding affecting sections of the East-West Road.
According to Umahi, the President specifically directed the ministry to take advantage of the existing corridor instead of creating another route.
“Divert, do not do any new alignments. Pass the coastal highway through the existing East-West road,” Umahi quoted Tinubu as directing.
The Federal Ministry of Works has also confirmed that Tinubu directed that the continuation of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway be aligned with the existing East-West Road in parts of the Niger Delta. The ministry said changes to the highway’s alignment were informed by engineering, environmental and cost considerations.
Umahi explained that the decision would also provide an opportunity to address vulnerable sections of the East-West Road which have repeatedly suffered from flooding.
He said some sections would have to be raised by about two metres above their existing levels to keep them above present and projected flood levels.
The minister cited recent flooding along the corridor as evidence that a more permanent engineering solution was necessary, adding that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori had also intervened over flooding challenges affecting the road.
Umahi said the government’s plan was therefore not merely to connect the coastal highway to the existing road but to substantially strengthen affected portions to withstand changing environmental conditions.
“The permanent solution is the decision of Mr President to align the continuation through the East-West Road. We now have to raise the road in many locations by two metres to be above present and expected flood levels,” he said.
The minister also defended the controversial realignment of the highway in Ondo State, insisting that the government had no regrets over the decision because the original route presented serious engineering difficulties.
“I am aware of petitions against me saying I diverted the Ondo section. I welcome that,” Umahi said.
“But the important thing is whether you are doing the right thing or the wrong thing. We have no regret for decisions taken in Ondo.”
According to him, the original alignment would have required extensive and costly earthworks because it crossed exceptionally difficult terrain.
Umahi said portions of the initial route passed through pits exceeding 100 metres in depth, while suitable sharp sand needed for construction was unavailable in some areas for depths of up to 300 metres.
He said the redesign was therefore intended to produce a safer, more durable and cost-effective highway rather than persist with an alignment that would substantially increase the cost and complexity of construction.
The Ministry of Works similarly said the Ondo alignment was redesigned in some locations because of deep pits, difficult terrain and challenging subsoil conditions, adding that substantial filling and ground-improvement works were already underway.
Umahi said contractors were carrying out filling operations exceeding 10 metres in some locations using sharp sand, with much of that work nearing completion.
The affected portions are Sections 4A and 4B of the coastal highway, covering a combined 67 kilometres — 27 kilometres in Ogun State and about 40 kilometres in Ondo State.
The section is expected to terminate around the Ondo-Edo axis before linking into the revised corridor.
Umahi further disclosed that a 45-kilometre Benin bypass forms part of the wider plan and is intended to enable motorists to avoid travelling through the congested centre of Benin City. He put the wider Ondo-Edo corridor, including the bypass, at about 104 kilometres.
Giving an update on other sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the minister said the first section, stretching 47.47 kilometres from Victoria Island in Lagos, had been completed and was ready for commissioning.
The approximately 55-kilometre second section, which terminates around the Lagos-Ogun boundary, is also progressing, with pavement works expected to be completed shortly.
The Federal Ministry of Works confirmed that Section 1 had been completed while substantial progress had been recorded on Section 2. It said major flyovers, overpasses and underpasses were still being constructed to deal with traffic, environmental and engineering challenges along the corridor.
Umahi said some of those designs had to be modified around the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport to accommodate existing and planned road, rail and industrial infrastructure.
At the Calabar end of the highway, the minister said Sections 3A and 3B, covering about 65 kilometres, had recorded more than 30 per cent completion.
Work is also ongoing on an 82-kilometre dual carriageway in Akwa Ibom State and an 88-kilometre route from Calabar to Ebidi Beach, which is intended to connect with the Trans-Saharan corridor.
Umahi further disclosed that surveys and procurement were underway for another 129-kilometre dual carriageway from the Edo-Delta boundary to the Delta-Bayelsa boundary, with construction expected to commence in November.
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