By Sandra Kenneth
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to alter the Ondo State section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, attributing the detour to severe terrain challenges and exorbitant projected construction costs.
Speaking during a progress briefing in Abuja on President Bola Tinubu’s four legacy road projects, Umahi disclosed that the initial route mapped out for the highway traversed treacherous terrain containing pits over 100 metres deep.
Addressing public criticism and petitions stemming from the route alteration, the minister stated that public scrutiny is welcome, but insisted that the decision was necessary to ensure fiscal responsibility and safety.
“I am aware of petitions against me saying I diverted the Ondo section. I welcome that—that is how it is supposed to be because we are serving the public,” Umahi said. “We have no regret for decisions taken in Ondo.”
According to the minister, continuing along the original corridor would have inflated costs drastically due to the extreme depth of the terrain and an absence of suitable sharp sand for filling up to 300 metres deep.
To resolve the challenge, engineers executed a redesign affecting Sections 4A and 4B of the highway—spanning 67 kilometres across Ogun (27 km) and Ondo (40 km) states—to detour around the terrain. Filling operations using sharp sand, exceeding 10 metres (over 30 feet) in depth, are now near completion along the new alignment, which will terminate near the Ondo-Edo axis.
Updates Across Key Highway Corridors
The minister also provided comprehensive updates on other segments of the multi-state infrastructure project:
Lagos Axis (Sections 1 & 2): Section 1 (47.47 km from Victoria Island, Lagos) is fully completed and ready for official commissioning. Section 2 (55 km terminating at the Lagos-Ogun boundary) is slated for dual-pavement completion next month. The section underwent major structural redesigns—including an 86-metre-span bridge around the Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Refinery—to resolve complex traffic overlaps among heavy refinery trucks, rail networks, and regional link roads.
Calabar & Akwa Ibom Axes (Sections 3 & 5): Work on Sections 3A and 3B (65 km at the Calabar end) has exceeded 30 per cent completion. Construction is active on Section 5 (an 82 km dual carriageway in Akwa Ibom) alongside an 88 km link connecting Calabar to Ebidi Beach toward the Trans-Saharan route.
Edo Realignment & Flood Mitigation: President Tinubu directed that the highway’s continuation through Edo State follow the existing East-West Road rather than a fresh corridor. This 104 km stretch includes the 45-kilometre Benin Bypass, designed to divert heavy transit traffic away from central Benin City. To combat persistent flooding along the corridor, the ministry will raise multiple sections of the existing road by two metres.
Niger Delta Network Expansion: Route surveys and procurement are underway for the 129 km dual carriageway between the Edo-Delta and Delta-Bayelsa boundaries, with construction targeted to start in November. Additionally, emergency repairs and full reconstructions are actively progressing on key corridors, including the Eleme Junction-to-Onne section, Eket Bypass, and the Akwa Ibom-Calabar route via Odukpani.
Umahi urged residents and leaders across the Niger Delta to support the ongoing road interventions, describing the project as a landmark infrastructure investment for the region.
