Works Minister Dave Umahi says water retention reported on parts of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not cause for alarm. Speaking during an inspection of Sections One and Two with members of the National Assembly, Umahi addressed complaints from road users and critics who cited flooding and potholes along portions of the corridor.
He links the water noticed around the median to the project’s design, which includes provisions for a future railway line. Umahi says the median was created to accommodate rail infrastructure and includes areas that were sand-filled after excavation. Since the railway component has not started, he says the contractor has been directed to construct proper drainage within the median and connect it to existing drainage networks to prevent further water accumulation.
Umahi also acknowledges that water has gathered temporarily in some depressed sections, but says corrective measures are underway.
On project timelines, he rejects claims the highway could be abandoned, saying substantial progress has been made since work began in 2024. He says Section One (47 km, six lanes) is complete and Section Two (55 km, six lanes) will be substantially completed by November, while Sections Three and Four progress amid terrain, swampy areas, and environmental constraints. He reiterates that major “legacy” projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration are expected to be completed by 2031.
