The Federal Government has revised the route of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, directing that the road connect to the existing East-West Road through the Ondo-Edo axis instead of following an entirely new alignment along the coastline.
Minister of Works Dave Umahi disclosed the development during a briefing on the government’s major road projects in Abuja, explaining that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the change to address engineering challenges and flooding concerns along the corridor.
Umahi described the decision as a “wonderful engineering decision by Mr President,” saying the revised plan would allow the government to integrate the coastal highway with existing road infrastructure rather than construct a separate route through the affected section.
According to the minister, the original alignment encountered difficult terrain, deep pits and weak subsoil conditions that complicated construction in parts of Ondo State. The government said these challenges informed the decision to modify the route.
The revised plan will see the highway connect with the existing East-West Road around the Ondo-Edo axis. Rather than building a completely new alignment into Edo State, the government intends to upgrade sections of the existing road to accommodate the additional traffic and improve connectivity across the Niger Delta.
Umahi also identified flooding, particularly around the Ughelli axis in Delta State, as a major consideration. He said some sections of the East-West Road would be raised by approximately two metres to keep the carriageway above current flood levels and account for anticipated climate-related risks.
The route change comes amid debate over whether the project should retain its original coastal alignment through communities in Ondo State. Some stakeholders from the Ilaje area have called for the restoration of the coastal route, arguing that moving the highway inland could exclude coastal communities from its anticipated economic benefits.
The Federal Government, however, has maintained that engineering assessments and construction conditions informed the adjustments. Umahi said the ministry had no regrets over the decisions taken on the Ondo section and insisted that the modifications were intended to support the project’s successful delivery.
Providing an update on construction, the minister said more than 30 per cent of the 65-kilometre Sections 3A and 3B had been completed. Work was also continuing on Section Five in Akwa Ibom State, which covers approximately 82 kilometres.
The first 47.47-kilometre section, stretching from Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island to Eleko in Lagos, has been completed and was awaiting commissioning, according to the latest updates from the ministry.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to connect Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. The government says the wider project is intended to improve regional transport links, facilitate trade and support economic activity along the southern corridor.
The revised alignment represents a significant adjustment to how the highway will connect parts of the Niger Delta. Its eventual impact will depend on the execution of the redesign, improvements to the existing East-West Road and how effectively the project serves communities along both the coastal and inland routes.
