The Nigerian Federal Government has provided an explanation for the slowed progress on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction.
According to Korede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, the primary reason for the delay is the need for sand settlement in swampy areas to ensure the road's long-term durability and prevent future collapses.
Kesha stated, “The contractor may seem slow due to the need to allow for sand settlement in the swampy terrain. And for us to do any meaningful construction that will last the test of time, there is the need for us to allow for adequate settlement to prevent the road from collapsing in the future.”
Additionally, the project encountered unexpected challenges, such as significant landfill requirements in the Oniru area, which were not revealed by initial subsoil investigations. Kesha noted, “This landfill was not expected based on previous subsoil investigations, which are typically conducted on smaller sections of the road rather than the entire 103-kilometre stretch.”
This unforeseen issue necessitated the removal of the landfill to ensure a stable foundation before continuing with the project. Despite these hurdles, the 700km highway project, designed to connect Lagos to Cross River through several coastal states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom, remains on schedule.
The project, aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic development, is expected to cost ₦15 trillion, with each kilometre priced at four billion naira.
Kesha emphasized that funding is not a constraint and the contractor’s capacity is not in doubt, stating, “So, since the contractor's capacity is not in doubt, and they can do one kilometre per day of concreting, we don’t have any doubts about that.”
Moreover, the project has faced additional challenges due to the need to reroute the road in some areas to avoid residential zones and minimize disruption to residents. Kesha explained, “As we are constructing through a densely populated area, there have been disruptions such as noise and traffic congestion. We have made efforts to minimise these disruptions and accommodate the needs of residents.
This has included adjusting the road’s alignment in certain areas to avoid residential properties.”
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