Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has defended the cost of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the figures are fair and even below international standards.
In a media briefing, Umahi explained that the first section of the project — a 47.47-kilometer stretch — will cost ₦1.067 trillion. The road will have six lanes, flyovers, underpasses, and shore protection to prevent erosion.
“A standard coastal road costs ₦7.5 billion per kilometer,” Umahi stated. “This includes shore protection, solar lighting, and tree planting.”
He clarified that the ₦7.5 billion figure is based on the standard two-lane measurement used for federal highways. The cost was derived by dividing the total amount for the six-lane section by its length and adjusting it to the two-lane standard.
Umahi said the cost also covers shoreline defenses, solar-powered streetlights, concrete retaining walls, and landscaping. He revealed that engineers had to overcome deep pits up to 20 meters along the route, which required extensive excavation and refilling before laying concrete.
“At kilometer 32, we met a 20-meter-deep pit. We had to dig it out and refill it in layers before construction could continue,” he said.
The minister compared the current concrete-based design to previous asphalt roads built by earlier governments. He argued that concrete roads last longer and are more economical in the long run.
“Five years ago, one cubic meter of concrete cost ₦729,000 under the past administration,” he said.
“We started the coastal highway with ₦350,000 per cubic meter. I stand by these figures — ask me any question.”
Umahi revealed that the project has been reviewed by international financial institutions, including a Dutch bank, which described the cost as undervalued.
“The Dutch bank led a review with other international banks and found the project undervalued. When funding opened for the 70% loan component, it was oversubscribed by $100 million,” he said.
Umahi called on critics to be objective, insisting that both he and President Bola Tinubu are committed to transparency.
“If these banks can trust the project, we are ready to answer anyone’s questions. But please, be objective and tell Nigerians the truth,” he added.
