The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the Federal Government is targeting the completion of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within three years, potentially delivering the project around 2029, ahead of the end of President Bola Tinubu’s second term in 2031.
Umahi disclosed this during a one-hour, 30-minute interview on Arise Television on Friday, where he defended the administration’s decision to pursue major infrastructure projects despite persistent complaints about the poor condition of existing federal roads.
The minister also admitted that the coastal highway contract was awarded without public bidding but maintained that the procurement method complied with the law.
“There was no public bidding, but there was direct procurement. It’s within the law. That’s all I’ve just said,” he stated.
When asked about the expected completion date for the entire 750-kilometre road, Umahi said the government was working towards delivering it within three years, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s administration.
“We have four years plus by God’s special grace. So we are looking at three years,” he said.
Asked whether he was certain the project would be completed within that timeframe, the minister attributed his projection to his faith and confidence in the President.
“I’m a child of God. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Okay, so I’m giving you the faith I have and the president that I know, that I believe that within the next three years plus, the president will be able to complete that project,” he added.
However, Umahi did not provide a detailed construction schedule or disclose specific completion dates for the highway’s various sections. The projected 2029 delivery therefore remains dependent on the progress and timelines of the different segments.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is among the Federal Government’s major infrastructure initiatives, designed to connect coastal communities and improve transportation along Nigeria’s southern corridor.
The project has attracted criticism and debate over its procurement process, cost, funding arrangements and the government’s decision to commit resources to new infrastructure while several existing federal roads remain in poor condition.
Defending the ministry’s broader road construction programme, Umahi said about 17,000 kilometres of federal roads were currently undergoing construction or reconstruction, excluding major legacy projects.
“Out of about 35,000 kilometres of our federal roads, the one that is before me in the Ministry of Works, if you remove the few legacy projects we are constructing, we are constructing 17,000 kilometres of roads presently,” he said.
He further disclosed that the ministry had completed approximately 1,700 kilometres of roads since the current administration assumed office, alongside more than six kilometres of flyovers, bridges and underpasses.
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Addressing concerns about the prioritisation of new highways over the rehabilitation of deteriorating roads, the minister argued that the government’s legacy projects also involved improvements to existing routes.
“I’ve said that the legacy projects are not entirely greenfield. And so that justification is that we are also reworking the existing roads within these four legacy projects,” he said.
On financing, Umahi explained that the projects were structured to attract investment, with funding split between companies of the Federal Government and loans.
“These legacy projects are investment-driven because 30 per cent is from companies of the federal government and 70 per cent is loan-driven,” he stated.
He also justified the coastal highway by pointing to the growing traffic pressure along the Lagos corridor, particularly between Victoria Island and Lekki.
“In the next five years, unless something is done in the corridor from VI to Lekki, it becomes, you know, a car park because of the congestion. And that’s why we are building the seven taxi route,” he said.
The minister also addressed the controversy over plans to recruit 4,000 social media influencers to publicise the administration’s projects, insisting that he would pay for the initiative personally rather than use public funds.
“Dave Umahi is funding, not Minister of Works, is funding influencers to advertise what I’m doing because I believe in what I’m doing. I believe in what the president is doing,” he said.
He added, “I am funding 4,000 influencers to advertise what the president is doing and it’s a catalyst for campaigning for him all over Nigeria.”
When questioned about whether the influencers would also promote Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election and counter criticism of the administration, Umahi acknowledged that the initiative would also serve the President’s political interests.
The minister further dismissed suggestions that his criticism of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was motivated by an ambition to become president, describing such speculation as disrespectful to Tinubu.
“I cannot wish the position of my boss. It is disloyalty and it’s unspiritual and disrespectful,” he said.
Umahi said his future political decisions would be guided by his personal convictions and belief in divine direction. He also outlined what he hoped would define his legacy, citing infrastructure development, helping individuals and promoting the political integration of the South-East into the country.
“My legacy will be the people I have made to laugh. The roads I have constructed, the people I have lifted up. And the region of South-East that I support being totally integrated,” he said.