From Chukwuma Umeorah, Lagos
The federal government is using advanced engineering to tackle swampy terrains on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Ministry of Works announced during a House of Representatives Committee on Works oversight visit in Lagos on Monday, May 5.
Hi-Tech Construction Company is employing concrete embankments, geofabrics, and stabilisation techniques to ensure the road’s integrity.
Hi-Tech’s Project Manager, Dany Abboud, highlighted challenges at kilometre 31.5, where swampy conditions cause soil subsidence. “We are experiencing some delays with some of the swampy areas… We don’t intend to deliver any substandard job,” he said, noting the use of sand, geofabrics, and concrete to protect embankments from illegal mining.
Abboud confirmed 8.5–9 kilometres of concrete pavement completed on both sides of the 47.5-kilometre first section. House Committee Chairman Akin Alabi praised the quality, stating, “I can confidently say you are doing more than has been released to you.” He assured legislative support for additional funding, backed by Speaker Tajudeen Abass.
Federal Controller of Works Olukorede Kesha emphasised quality over speed, saying, “Engineering is no magic… We need to watch how the field material behaves under pressure.” She noted Hi-Tech’s rigorous testing, ensuring durability in swampy conditions similar to the Lagos-Badagry project.
The 700-kilometre highway, 70% complete as of April 2025, is set for its first phase completion by May 29.