Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has defended the ₦7.5 billion per kilometer cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the figure is fair and consistent with global standards for projects of similar scope and complexity.
Speaking at a media briefing, Umahi explained that the first 47.47-kilometer section of the highway, valued at ₦1.067 trillion, involves a sophisticated engineering design that goes beyond ordinary road construction.
According to him, the coastal route is a six-lane reinforced concrete expressway, incorporating flyovers, underpasses, shoreline protection systems, solar-powered streetlights, and landscaping.
“A standard coastal road costs about ₦7.5 billion per kilometer,” the minister said. “That includes all fillings, shore protection works, solar lighting, and tree planting.”
He clarified that the figure was obtained by dividing the total ₦1.067 trillion cost by the project’s 47.47 kilometers, and further adjusting it for a standard two-lane highway. “When you break it down, it gives ₦7.5 billion per kilometer, which is the global benchmark for roads of this quality,” he added.
Umahi pointed out that the project’s cost is also driven by difficult terrain and extensive groundwork. He revealed that engineers encountered pits as deep as 20 meters in some sections, which required careful excavation, refilling, and stabilization before concrete could be laid.
The minister contrasted the project with traditional asphalt roads, stressing that the use of reinforced concrete will extend the highway’s lifespan and offer better long-term value for the government.
He also disclosed that international financial institutions — including a Dutch-led consortium — had reviewed the project and even described it as undervalued. Umahi said the 70 percent loan component of the project was oversubscribed by $100 million, which, according to him, demonstrates foreign investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure drive.
Defending the project’s transparency, Umahi challenged critics to base their arguments on verified facts. “If international lenders can back this project, then we are confident in our figures. Criticism is welcome, but it should be objective and truthful,” he maintained.
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