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The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be subject to tolls once it is completed and inaugurated.
Umahi highlighted this point during a project inspection tour on Saturday.
“I must stress that this road will be tolled, as per the contractor's package,” he stated.
“I will be inviting the contractor to provide us with the timeline; I do not want to open this road to traffic permanently before we discuss tolling.”
“The contractor must present us with a plan and start constructing the necessary infrastructure before the end of April; therefore, we intend to toll this route immediately after its completion and commissioning,” he added.
Regarding the challenges posed by the realignment of the highway on the project budget, the minister indicated that there would be no possibility of increasing the budget further.
“We have finalized the re-measurements, and given our country's various issues, we have consulted with the Bureau of Public Procurement; thus, there is no opportunity to increase the project budget,” he explained.
“We have a total increase of N170 billion for the project due to this realignment and the diversion of projects to protect the high-rise buildings at the start of the project, the shore protection we encountered, and the considerable refuse dumps that were removed—some reaching depths of 15 meters and spanning several kilometers.”
“Hitech has to bear this risk, and that is part of its contribution to building our nation,” he stated.
Will the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway have tolls?
Yes, the highway will be tolled once it is completed and inaugurated, as confirmed by the Minister of Works.
Is there any possibility of increasing the project budget?
No, the Minister has stated that there will be no room for increasing the project budget due to various constraints.
What challenges are affecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project?
The project has faced challenges due to the realignment of the highway, which has resulted in significant changes to the project budget and the need to address environmental concerns.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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