Dare Babalola
The Federal Government has announced the temporary opening of Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, a 47-kilometre stretch spanning from the Ahmadu Bello Way junction to Eleko village junction, as part of its efforts to boost connectivity along Nigeria’s southern coast.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced on Friday that the highway will be temporarily opened, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, as part of efforts to enhance accessibility.
The minister explained that the decision aims to ease traffic and improve access in Lagos, particularly during the upcoming festive period.
According to the minister, the partial reopening marks the fulfillment of an earlier promise made by the government.
During an inspection tour of the coastal highway project on November 23, 2025, the former Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, had assured that Section 1 would be completed and opened to traffic between December 12 and 17, 2025 a promise now fulfilled.
He noted that opening the highway is set to transform the often-challenging drive in the Lekki-Ajah corridor, promising to cut travel time by over 100 percent and significantly lower travel costs for commuters.
The minister assured further that April 2026 has been set aside to complete Section 1 and half of Section 2 for full commissioning, excluding the bridges, which are part of the Section 2 contract.
