The Federal Government has awarded the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to Hitech Road Construction Company, signifying a monumental step towards enhanced connectivity and economic development in Nigeria.
The announcement, made by the Minister of Works, Mr. Dave Umahi, during a meeting in Lagos, heralds President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s growth and prosperity.
The project, set to be executed as a Public Private Partnership, is already funded and will feature toll collection upon completion.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning approximately 650 to 700 kilometers, will be built in phases with integrated rail lines and cutting-edge 11-inch-thick concrete roads, reinforcing local industries and utilizing Nigeria’s abundant resources.
The route will connect key points, from Lagos to Northern Nigeria via Ogoja-Ikom, stimulating tourism and industrial clusters.
The project, while ambitious, faces numerous challenges, including mangroves, marshy areas, and diverse soil types. A combination of construction methods, including pile-supported decks, sand filling, and retaining walls, will be employed to overcome these obstacles.
Nicholas Rizk, consultant to Hitech Construction Company, highlighted the significance of the project, connecting nine states and facilitating national and international integration.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will boost economic and social development across regions, fostering progress while considering environmental and safety concerns.
The project’s second meeting, focusing on the business case study, is scheduled in two weeks, marking an exciting step toward realizing this groundbreaking infrastructure project, the first of its kind in Africa.
In Rizk’s words: “We are connecting nine states and this road.
“In addition to the integration at the national level for Southwest and Southeast, South-South and Niger Delta, it connects with the Federal Roads going from Lagos to Sokoto.
“From Warri to Kaduna, from Port Harcourt to Kano-Maiduguri, and from Calabar to Maiduguri.
“So as the Minister mentioned, we have this coastal highway that is more or less 10 to 12 kilometres away from the shorelines to consider the issue of erosion and the sensitive environmental areas.”