Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has defended the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the project’s estimated ₦7.5 billion per kilometer is justified and even undervalued compared to global standards.
Speaking during a media briefing, Umahi said the first section of the 700-kilometer coastal road, stretching 47.47 kilometers, is valued at ₦1.067 trillion. The section, he noted, will feature six lanes, flyovers, underpasses, solar lighting, extensive shore protection, and other modern infrastructure components.
“A standard coastal road is going for ₦7.5 billion per kilometer of standard highway,” Umahi stated.
“This includes all the fillings, shore protections, solar lighting, and tree planting.”
The minister explained that the figure was reached by dividing the total cost of the 47.47km stretch by its six lanes and converting it to a standard two-lane highway measurement, which is the benchmark for federal roads.
“When you divide ₦1.067 trillion by 47.47 and by two, you get ₦11.57 billion for three lanes. A standard federal highway has two lanes, so adjusting for that gives ₦7.5 billion per kilometer,” he elaborated.
According to Umahi, the project’s cost covers shoreline defenses, concrete retaining walls, landscaping, and solar-powered streetlights, in addition to the main construction work. He added that the ministry encountered significant engineering challenges along the route, including deep pits of up to 20 meters that required excavation and staged refilling before concrete laying.
“At some points, we encountered pits up to 20 meters deep, which we had to fill in layers before proceeding. Similar terrain challenges occurred around kilometer 32,” he said.
The minister also compared the current concrete-based design to earlier asphalt roads awarded by past administrations, arguing that reinforced concrete offers superior durability and lower long-term costs.
“Five years ago, one cubic meter of concrete cost ₦729,000 under previous contracts. We’re doing it now at ₦350,000 per cubic meter. Hold me accountable; I’m ready for open debate,” Umahi declared.
He further disclosed that the project’s financial model had been reviewed and endorsed by Dutch and other international banks, which reportedly described it as “undervalued.”
“When it was time to fund the 70% loan component, the project was oversubscribed by $100 million,” he added.
Umahi urged critics to be objective, emphasizing that both he and President Bola Tinubu are committed to transparency.
“If international institutions can finance this project, then we are confident in its integrity. But critics should be fair and tell Nigerians the truth,” he said.
