Presidency Confirms Full Construction of Coastal Highway

The Presidency dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the abandonment of sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in favor of the East-West Road. The government confirmed that the entire 750-kilometre coastal highway would be constructed as initially planned.

This clarification followed public concerns regarding the potential impact on states and coastal communities due to the proposed use of the East-West Road corridor in parts of the Niger Delta. The statement, shared on the Presidency’s official X handle, emphasized that the reconstruction of 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, from Edo State to Cross River State, is an additional project and will not interfere with the coastal highway's construction.

Minister of Works David Umahi had previously suggested using the East-West Road for the coastal highway, which sparked controversy. The government identified five sections of the highway where work is ongoing and stated that surveying and design work for the remaining sections is in progress.