The Federal Government has temporarily opened the 30-kilometre completed Section I, Phase 1 of the 47.474-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to traffic.
This, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said, was aimed at easing traffic congestion during the upcoming festive periods and providing a world-class road infrastructure for Nigerians.
A statement sent to THE WHISTLER in Abuja stated that Umahi opened it to traffic on Friday on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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The statement stated that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the legacy projects under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to transform the nation’s transportation landscape.
The minister said that the project, which spans across nine states, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, is expected to bring numerous benefits, including increased tourism potential, job creation, regional integration, shoreline protection, and improved economic prosperity.
The temporarily opened stretch commences at the Ahmadu Bello Way Junction in Victoria Island and terminates at the Eleko Village Junction in Lekki, Lagos State.
Umahi, who commended the contractor and relevant stakeholders, noted that the occasion is a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering on its campaign promises.
According to the minister, the highway is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, particularly in the region.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Rafiu Adeladan, noted that the project is a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the nation’s infrastructure.
“This project is a critical component of our effort to drive economic growth and development, and we are committed to delivering it to Nigerians on time,” he reiterated.
Also speaking, the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Engr Olufemi Dare, described the project as a game-changer for the region, capable of transforming the lives of the people.