Senator Engr. David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has promised that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Section One will be commissioned by May.
During an inspection on Saturday, February 21, 2026, he made the promise, as the Federal Government ramps up construction of the important coastal corridor that connects Lagos to the south-south and south-east.
According to Senator Umahi, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is resolute in its pursuit of delivering transformational infrastructure despite the environmental and geographical obstacles, as shown by the progress achieved on the segment.
He mentioned that the engineering team had tested their limitations, but were successfully navigating the deep soil conditions with pits reaching over 20 meters.
Francis Nwaze, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, sent a statement to the press that contained this information.
We are confident that a man who collaborated with a brave president to control the Atlantic Ocean can conquer any obstacle along this coastline.
The part of the road where we are now is not the worst, though. Chapter one, linkage number 34. This is very similar to what we observed in chainage 18. This pit is twenty meters deep, with an average of eighteen to twenty-one meters deep; at chainage 18, we had a pit that was around twenty-two meters deep, and HITECH defeated it.
The minister commended HITECH Construction Company for their perseverance and dedication, elaborating on how the contractor was covering the costs of addressing unanticipated soil finds without increasing the total project cost.
This level of danger is too great for any other contractor to handle. You have demonstrated that your motivation is not financial gain but rather the prosperity of your nation.
According to him, the sub-filling is scheduled to be finished within days, and the 3-kilometer length that is now under inspection is almost finished. Upon completion of Section Two, drivers will have uninterrupted access from Ahmadu Bello Way through Lekki and, as construction continues on Section One, toward the Dangote Refinery axis.
According to what I’ve heard, the sub-filling of this roughly 3-kilometer portion will be finished within the next week, and after that, the whole road will be available to traffic. You won’t need to pull over anywhere along the road from Ahmadu Bello to Lekki.
Section two allows you to continue considerably further forward, all the way to Dangote Refinery. The plan is to commission part one by May, but we’re running into trouble. The question is, am I willing to take a chance by telling HITECH that this three-kilometer thing is a major deal? Reason being, we had to leave that part exposed to the rain for six months when we reached chainage 18. Consolidating the location within six months was made possible by employing lumps, a one-inch stone base, and sharp sand.
We can’t afford to launch this project and let the costs rise, so I’ll have to take the risk of saying, “You must put the concrete before the end of April.” Unfortunately, this one won’t make it through the rainy season.
What we’re doing currently is planning to do our consolidation test by March to observe its results. We aim to have our CRCP up and running within two weeks after the end of April, and if all goes well, we’ll be ready to commission by May 20th.
throughout with the destruction of metal fences and the pouring of waste into manholes, the minister denounced vandalism throughout the corridor, stating that such actions put lives and infrastructure at risk. He promised that those responsible would face prosecution and praised the vigilant work of security authorities.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police, and your dedication in resolving the issues of vandalism, cutting our lovely metal fence, and opening manholes and disposing of garbage there. Quite a few cars have passed me by. Prompt legal action should be taken against anyone apprehended. Any case involving this route will be handled by our seven-man SAN.
Additionally, we need to figure out how to temporarily seal the manhole so that it is difficult for them to open. Still, communicating with our people is an obligation. Cutting the metal fence is a sinful act. Opening the manhole and disposing of trash down it is a wicked deed.
He went beyond just the project at hand to connect the rapid progress to the larger reform program of the Tinubu government, reiterating that the delivery of infrastructure is crucial to the prosperity of the country.
This goes beyond just the president. HITECH and the Ministry of Works are irrelevant. It’s all about Nigeria’s progress.
He also dropped hints that we could expect section two to be released before the year ends. He also mentioned that all bridges connecting the two sections are expected to be finished by April of next year.
The minister made it clear that not everyone is happy with the current rate of progress, noting that some people were hoping for the project’s and the administration’s demise. Some folks are unhappy because they anticipated our failure. They anticipated the president’s failure. But once you’re on board, nothing can pull you down but God.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still in a strong position to lead the country in a period of rebirth, and that the clear upticks in important economic metrics are evidence of the results of his leadership and the policies he has put in place.
We have eight years to turn this nation around under this president. So, dissatisfied people should take their grievances to God. Our macroeconomic indicators are all there: a stable naira, a foreign reserve of $49 billion, and inflation of around 15%. They aren’t enchanted.
The minister urged Nigerians to set aside their animosity and lend their support to the administration’s continuing reforms and infrastructure drive, saying that these outcomes are heavenly endorsement for their efforts.
“These things show that the president has been touched by a higher power… The president and the efforts of God through him need our united support, so let us strive to be joyful.
While pleading for conscientious participation from the general public, the minister emphasised that the project is bigger than any one individual or organization and asked detractors to remain objective and helpful.
While praising President Tinubu for authorising payments to contractors to resume, he took the opportunity to warn that advance payments on federal projects were being misused. He claims that contractors will no longer be accommodated if they receive Advance Payment Guarantees without returning to the site.
Everyone who is indebted to APG must go back to the site and put it to use. While you are hoarding public funds for four or five years, I will not pay for certifications. Those days are over.
The minister ended by restating his dedication to collaborating with the president to build essential infrastructure around the country, calling it a national duty that demands perseverance, self-control, and belief.
Together with you, Mr. President, we will not rest until we reclaim our nation. God has given us this mission, and we can accomplish it with the president’s help.
Senior presidential aides, including Moremi Ojudu and Barrister Chioma Nweze, were present during the inspection. Ojudu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South West, while Nweze is her South-East equivalent.