The Federal Government on Friday temporarily opened Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to commuters in Lagos for smoother journeys this festive season. The newly accessible stretch covers 47 kilometres from the Ahmadu Bello Way junction to the Eleko village junction, easing movement along one of the state’s busiest corridors.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the opening during a ceremony attended by government officials, traditional rulers and other key stakeholders. He said the partial opening will bring immediate relief to motorists who have endured severe traffic congestion on the Lekki–Ajah corridor for years. According to him, putting the first section to use fulfils the promise he made during his inspection tour last month, where he assured that Section 1 would be open to traffic between December 12 and 17, 2025. Umahi also noted that the complete construction of the section has been scheduled for April 2026.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of Nigeria’s most ambitious road projects, designed to stretch for about 700 kilometres and connect nine coastal states. The highway begins in Lagos and is expected to pass through Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom before terminating in Cross River. The Federal Executive Council approved the project in February 2024, with construction commencing on the Lagos axis in March. President Bola Tinubu officially flagged off the multi-billion-naira project in May that same year, with each kilometre estimated to cost N4 billion.
Despite its significance, the project has not been free from controversy. Public debate has trailed the cost, the process of awarding the contract and the demolition of properties along the route. The Federal Government has, however, defended the decisions taken, insisting that the long-term economic and infrastructural benefits outweigh the disruptions.
Umahi reaffirmed earlier this year that the highway would be completed within eight years, emphasising its importance to national development, tourism, coastal connectivity and commercial activity. He maintained that Friday’s opening signals steady progress on a project expected to redefine coastal transportation.
For Lagos residents, the temporary opening of the first section brings timely relief as the festive travel rush gathers pace, marking a major step forward in the delivery of one of Nigeria’s most transformative road initiatives.
Melissa Enoch
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