Did you know that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project when completed will enter the world record books among other iconic coastal routes like the Wild Atlantic Highway in the Ireland and the Pacific Coastal Highway in the United States?

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is one of the biggest infrastructural road project that is equipped with two spurs connecting to Northern Nigeria, and promises to revolutionize travel dynamics and economic prospects along its route. 

Here are some facts you should know about the one of a kind super highway in Southern Nigeria.

FACT 1: The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a 700 kilometers (km) highways that spans nine (9) States with two spurs leading to the Northern States. The project is expected to be completed within 36 months.

FACT 2: The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project starts from the Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island in Lagos, and stretches through Lekki deep seaport, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa-Ibom states.

FACT 3: The first phase of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd. The first phase encompasses a 47.47km stretch from Victoria Island, boasting five lanes on each side and a central train track, holding immense potential for economic growth and development.

FACT 4: According to the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will innovatively make use of 11-inch-thick concrete roads with 20-millimetre reinforcement, which will support local cement manufacturing, boost steel production from Ajaokuta, and utilize Nigeria’s abundant bitumen resources.

FACT 5: The first section of the 1.3km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway was achieved within 3 weeks of signing the contract according to the Minister of Works, who said that over N1.06 trillion have been spent to achieve the first section of the project.

FACT 6: One of the fascinating and interesting features of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is that it compresses the distance between Lagos and Cross River, as the distance from Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos to Araromi in Ondo state is about 50 kilometres along the coast.

FACT 7: Economic analysts predict a substantial boost to Lagos State’s economy, estimated at 50%, upon the completion of the first phase, which will enhance access to the bustling Lekki Deep Seaport and the vibrant economic corridor housing the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, among other multinational industries.

FACT 8: The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is expected to stimulate tourism and include industrial clusters, such as hotels, factories, housing estates, and other amenities.

FACT 9: The Federal Government of Nigeria sought funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the segment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway. Part of the funding was also sourced by Hitech, the contractors.

FACT 10: When completed, the 700km long Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will enter the world record books among iconic coastal routes like the Wild Atlantic Highway in the Ireland and the Pacific Coastal Highway in the United States.

SOURCES: Vanguard | TheCable | LinkedIn | Nairamatrics | Punch

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