Nigerian government ordered the opening of the first 47km of Lagos–Calabar coastal highway to ease congestion, boost economic corridors and support national growth.
Nigerian authorities has ordered the immediate opening of a major section of the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway as the government pushes to ease traffic congestion, strengthen trade routes and accelerate economic growth.
The directive, issued on Sunday November 23, 2025, by the Federal Ministry of Works, covers chainage zero to 47km of the project — the first completed portion of the 750km highway designed to link Lagos with major coastal states and catalyze nationwide commerce.
Speaking during an inspection at the 33km mark of the project, Minister of Works David Umahi said the opening would significantly reduce travel delays, improve efficiency for businesses and support industrial expansion along strategic economic corridors.
According to Umahi, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the ministry to open all completed sections of the coastal highway to motorists and commercial users as soon as they are ready. The minister added that tolling on opened sections will begin in December 2025, to support cost recovery in line with presidential approval.
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Umahi reported that more than 80% of work on the first 47.7km segment is complete, with full commissioning scheduled for December. He praised Hi-Tech Construction Company, the contractor handling the project, for what he described as strong performance and commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
The minister also highlighted the broader impact of the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, calling it a landmark project that will reshape industrial transport, enhance regional connectivity and support trade links across West and Central Africa.
He said the ministry has reviewed settlement processes, sand-filling activities and tax-credit arrangements for roads linking the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Free Trade Zones and the Dangote refinery.
Umahi further disclosed that Deutsche Bank, a major financier of the highway, had assessed the project’s valuation as lower than expected, signaling strong international confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure push. He noted that the bank had oversubscribed its support for the project by more than $100 million, a development he said reflects growing foreign investor interest in the economic potential of the coastal corridor.
The Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings, is expected to reshape mobility, reduce logistical bottlenecks and anchor long-term industrial expansion once completed. The opening of its first stretch marks a significant milestone in the government’s effort to unlock new economic opportunities across the country.
