President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned the first completed segment of the much-discussed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway-a six-lane dual carriageway spanning 30 kilometers from Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island to Eleko Village in the Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.
Hailed by the government as a landmark step in an ambitious 750km infrastructure project designed to connect Nigeria’s western and southeastern regions, the commissioning of this initial stretch has stirred a national debate: is this a sign of tangible progress or a premature political celebration of an unfinished project?
The Project at a Glance
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is Nigeria’s largest single infrastructure initiative, a project with roots dating back to the administrations of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. Now actively pursued under President Tinubu’s administration, the highway is intended to span nine coastal states – Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River; linking major commercial hubs, ports, and tourism corridors.
Section 1, now inaugurated, stretches 30km of the projected 700km and is being constructed by Hitech Construction Company Ltd. Minister of Works David Umahi disclosed that the federal government paid N18 billion in compensation for affected structures, including both temporary shanties and permanent homes, even where legal provisions did not necessitate such payments.
A “Fulfilled” President Amidst Criticism
At the commissioning event in Lagos, President Tinubu expressed a sense of achievement:
“It is a great honor for me and a sense of fulfilment to stand before you to commission the completed part of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Corridor. This is Phase 1, Section 1 from Ahmadu Bello Way of the 750km iconic project.”
The president’s remarks were echoed by Minister Umahi, who praised the contractor’s work and humorously likened the quality of construction to “the streets of heaven” during a Channels Television appearance. Umahi announced that the first 30km segment was completed just in time for Tinubu’s one-year anniversary in office. However, the fanfare has not been without controversy.
NEFGAD and Civil Society Pushback
The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), a public procurement watchdog, issued a strongly worded statement criticizing the commissioning of just 30km—roughly 4% of the total project length.
“We caution against the politicization of infrastructure delivery and stress that project commissioning should reflect substantive completion and usability of the project in its entirety or at least a major functional section,” NEFGAD stated.
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The group warned that such actions risk turning crucial infrastructure milestones into “mere photo opportunities and political theater,” and urged the Tinubu administration to ensure transparency, uphold project integrity, and avoid setting a damaging precedent.
Criticism over the highway project extends beyond its current status. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party leader Peter Obi have both accused the government of awarding the project without competitive bidding, citing a conflict of interest due to the Chagoury Group’s alleged ties to President Tinubu through his son, Seyi Tinubu.
The first phase was awarded to Hitech Construction Ltd., part of the Chagoury conglomerate. According to Atiku, Seyi Tinubu sits on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, a Chagoury affiliate, raising red flags about conflict of interest and abuse of procurement laws.
“The fact that it is happening at a time Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis ever is a red flag,” Atiku stated, labeling the N15.6 trillion project as “the most expensive single project ever embarked upon by the Nigerian government.”
Environmental and Business Disruption
Another major point of contention has been the environmental and socio-economic cost of the highway. The route cuts across ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands and mangrove forests, but critics allege that thorough Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) were bypassed.
Moreover, the demolition of properties to create the right of way has caused unrest, particularly regarding the Landmark Leisure Beach. CEO Paul Onwuanibe claims his company, which has invested $200 million and provides over 4,000 jobs, received inadequate notice of demolition, despite claims by Umahi that the resort’s core infrastructure remains untouched.
Umahi insists that the road was re-routed to preserve key businesses, even deviating from the gazetted path in some instances:
“The Landmark infrastructure is intact; what went was their encroachment on our front shoreline,” he said, referencing a Supreme Court ruling granting the federal government ownership of a 250-meter shoreline strip.
The Tolling Debate
With Umahi proposing that the newly inaugurated section be tolled immediately upon full completion, concerns have arisen over the potential costs to motorists. The Minister suggested toll fees could start at N1,500 for cars and up to N3,000 for trucks.
This plan has drawn criticism from organized labour and members of the public, who question the wisdom of imposing tolls amid widespread economic hardship.
Future Prospects Ahead?
Supporters argue that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, once completed, will enhance trade, reduce travel time, promote tourism, and create jobs; offering long-term returns on investment. Umahi stated the road could recoup its cost within 15 years through tolling and commercial development, including a central rail corridor.
Others remain skeptical. They point to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, still incomplete after two decades, and thousands of abandoned federal projects as cautionary tales. With elections on the horizon in 2027 and an eight-year timeline proposed for full completion, some wonder if the LCCH will follow a similar fate.
Infrastructure Legacy or Vanity Project?
The commissioning of 30km out of a 700km megaproject raises valid questions: Is this tangible progress, or a PR stunt? Should a government celebrate early milestones, or wait until meaningful, usable portions are ready for public benefit?
While the ambition behind the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is laudable, the road ahead-literally and figuratively-remains long. Transparency, environmental care, and genuine public engagement will determine whether the project becomes a legacy of transformative infrastructure or another casualty of Nigeria’s broken delivery systems.
For now, President Tinubu has his ribbon-cutting moment. But Nigerians, wary of “white elephant” projects, will be watching closely to see whether this highway of hope becomes a symbol of national development or another chapter in the country’s checkered infrastructure history.
