The Federal Government has announced the planned demolition of 700 houses to facilitate the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Controller of Works, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, during a stakeholders’ meeting focused on the progress of the multi-billion-naira project.
Kesha explained that the project team initially faced the possibility of demolishing around 1,500 buildings, but a more cost-effective route was chosen, reducing the number of affected properties to fewer than 700.
She also confirmed that Section One of the highway — a 47.4-kilometre stretch — has already been awarded. Addressing concerns from communities affected by the road’s alignment, Kesha emphasized that the government is not obligated to follow previously proposed alignments.
“Those alignments were proposed by a different party. Now that the Federal Government is handling the project, we’re selecting the most viable and cost-efficient path,” she said.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, also spoke at the meeting, describing the highway as a nation-building initiative that will help decongest traffic and contribute to carbon credit generation due to its environmentally-friendly features.
“This highway will redirect heavy traffic away from urban areas — a major benefit. We’re constructing not just for today, but for the future,” he stated. “A 12-meter space is reserved in the middle for a railway line, and train stations and supporting infrastructure will be part of the design.”
He highlighted challenges in Section Two, especially in industrial zones like the Dangote Refinery, where the construction of a large flyover is underway.
“We’re building a complex flyover structure — 60 meters in one span, 41.6 meters in the next, followed by 22 to 23-meter spans — to bypass critical installations like Dangote’s refinery and fertilizer plant,” Umahi explained.
The Minister added that similar construction has already commenced in Cross River and Akwa Ibom, with other states set to follow.
Umahi also spoke about the Sokoto-Badagry legacy project, noting that a particularly challenging segment in Badagry involves crossing about three kilometers of river, for which four engineering solutions are under consideration.
He emphasized that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is just one of four interlinked legacy infrastructure projects designed to boost nationwide connectivity.
One major corridor stretches from Calabar through Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and into Abuja, while another extends from Abuja to Makurdi, Keffi, Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, and Gombe.
“All four projects are strategically connected, ensuring no region is left out,” Umahi added.
He concluded by urging citizens to properly maintain public infrastructure and avoid misuse.