…Commissions completed portion of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
• Warns developers against encroaching on setbacks
By Chukwuma Umeorah
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday announced that his ongoing reforms are beginning to show early signs of improvement as he commissioned the first completed 30 kilometres section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure delivery, warning developers and contractors against violating federal planning regulations.
Speaking during the event in Lagos, Tinubu stated that the Federal Government would not tolerate encroachments on designated setbacks, warning that relevant authorities would enforce compliance in the interest of national development and urban order.
“Let me at this stage warn all developers that the Federal Government will enforce the setback, if not for anything, but for the interest of our nation. Development without approvals will not be compensated.
“We have gazetted and published the setbacks. We are going to enforce it rigidly and every way possible,” he insisted.
The president’s warning followed the disclosure by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that the Federal Ministry of Works had paid over N18 billion in compensation to property owners affected by construction in Section 1 of the project.
Umahi told the president that many of the affected structures were located within the Federal Government’s established right of way, and some were built without legitimate approvals, adding:
“Although the government was not obligated to make all of these payments, President Tinubu approved the compensations to avoid delays and ensure that the project proceeded at the intended pace.”
Tinubu at the event also acknowledged the economic challenges facing the country, but stated that his ongoing reforms are yielding early signs of improvement.
He cited progress in inflation management, exchange rate stability, and reduced fiscal leakages.
“The economy is recovering. Inflation is simmering down. The exchange rate is stabilised. The corruption in the exchange rate is eliminated,” Tinubu said.
The president also commissioned other federal road projects across the various regions, including Ibadan -Ife – llesha – Akure – Benin Road in Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Edo State, construction of Nembe – Brass Road Section ll, in Bayelsa, construction of a section of Enugu – Onitsha Carriageway with a total length of 107km, among others.
He urged citizens to protect government-built infrastructure, as well as see them as collective assets for public benefit.
“It is your money. It is your community. It is your children that must go to school. We are paying for all of that. The benefits will come. You will be part of them. The hope is here,” the president declared.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 700-kilometre federal road project expected to connect nine states from Lagos to Cross River.
Stakeholders have described the project as a strategic investment in infrastructure with the potential to improve access, support trade and logistics, and enhance inter-state connectivity.
The road is being constructed using continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), a technology selected for its durability and lower maintenance requirement.
The president noted that the method represents a shift in national infrastructure standards, with long-term benefits.
Hi-Tech Construction Company, the contractor handling the project, confirmed that the 30km section was completed within a year from the date of contract execution.
According to the company’s Managing Director, Eng. Danny Abboud, work is ongoing at both ends of the alignment; one stretching from Victoria Island toward the Lekki corridor, and the other from Epe in the direction of Badagry.
“This is not just a road. It is a functional transport corridor designed to support mobility, access to markets, and national development.
“We have prioritised the use of locally available materials and introduced machines capable of laying full-width concrete pavement, which is being applied for the first time in Nigeria,” he said.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, provided additional details, stating that the project is being executed under the EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Financing) model with counterpart funding from the Federal Government.
He noted that the sections in Calabar and Akwa Ibom are also underway.
He explained that the project would contribute to job creation, promote access to production zones, support maritime activities, improve security surveillance, and open up opportunities for tourism and regional integration.
“This highway will enhance economic activity and reduce travel time across the southern corridor. It is also expected to support environmental sustainability through the use of solar streetlights and shoreline protection,” Umahi said.
Earlier in his address, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the National Assembly would continue to provide legislative backing for infrastructure development.
He described the project as a necessary step to connect key economic zones and improve inter-state transportation.
“We now have clear evidence that the project is in progress. This commissioning demonstrates that the administration is focused on delivery,” Akpabio said.