𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀-𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 9 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

𝐁𝐘 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄,

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬, 𝐎𝐠𝐮𝐧, 𝐎𝐧𝐝𝐨, 𝐀𝐤𝐰𝐚 𝐈𝐛𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐨, 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚, 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬

The multibillion-naira Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project has recorded significant construction progress in several parts of the country, with physical works now visible beyond Lagos and extending into parts of Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

However, despite the Federal Government's plan to establish a continuous coastal road connecting Lagos with Calabar, construction has not yet reached the same stage across all nine states on the proposed corridor.

The highway is planned to pass through Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, creating a major transportation corridor along Nigeria's coastline.

Recent inspections, government statements, construction reports and publicly available photographs indicate that the most visible construction activities are currently concentrated in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

Meanwhile, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers remain among the major sections awaiting full-scale construction, according to recent statements attributed to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

𝐋𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐒: 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓'𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Lagos remains the most advanced section of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

The first section, stretching approximately 47.47 kilometres from the Ahmadu Bello Way/Eko Atlantic axis towards Eleko, has recorded substantial completion.

A 30-kilometre stretch was opened temporarily to motorists in December 2025, giving the public a first opportunity to use part of the newly constructed coastal road.

The second section, measuring approximately 55.7 kilometres from Eleko towards the Lagos–Ogun boundary, has also recorded substantial progress.

In August 2026, the Minister of Works said the section had crossed the 80 per cent completion mark, with associated infrastructure including bridges, interchanges, underpasses and other structures progressing along the corridor.

Aerial photographs taken in April 2026 also showed extensive stretches of the concrete carriageway along the Lagos coastline.

The Lagos section has, however, generated public debate over water accumulation and drainage. Umahi acknowledged that some portions had experienced water retention and said corrective measures were being implemented.

The minister also explained that portions of the median were designed with future railway development in mind.

𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐍: 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒

Construction activity has also moved into Ogun State.

According to the Federal Ministry of Works, approximately 28 kilometres of dual carriageway is under construction in the Ogun axis, with concrete pavement works already underway.

Construction activities observed in the area include earthworks, drainage construction, reinforcement works and preparation for rigid pavement.

The development represents a major step forward from the earlier stage when the Ogun portion existed primarily as part of the planned extension from Lagos.

The Ogun section is nevertheless still considerably behind the level of completion recorded in Lagos.

𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎: 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐉𝐄 𝐀𝐗𝐈𝐒

In Ondo State, construction has entered the foundation and earthworks stage, with particular attention on the coastal communities in the Ilaje area.

The Ondo section is approximately 52 kilometres, with the Federal Government reporting ongoing foundation works.

The Ministry has indicated that the foundation stage is expected to progress towards completion around December, after which concrete paving is expected to commence.

The Minister of Works inspected portions of the Ajegeri/Ilaje axis in August.

The Ondo section has also become one of the most politically and technically contentious portions of the project.

Some traditional rulers and coastal stakeholders have called for the original coastal alignment to be maintained, arguing that communities along the Ondo coastline should directly benefit from the project.

An Ilaje monarch reportedly appealed to President Bola Tinubu over the alignment, while Afenifere also called on the Federal Government to ensure that Ondo's coastal communities are not bypassed.

The Federal Government, however, has maintained that engineering challenges, including difficult soil conditions and major water channels encountered along portions of the original alignment, necessitated changes.

𝐄𝐃𝐎: 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Unlike Lagos, Ogun and Ondo, Edo State has not yet emerged as one of the major active construction fronts of the coastal highway.

Although Edo is officially part of the nine-state corridor, the Minister of Works recently listed the state among the sections still outstanding.

Consequently, claims suggesting that the entire Edo portion is already under full-scale construction should be treated with caution until supported by verifiable site evidence.

The state remains an important part of the planned coastal transportation network, but major continuous construction has yet to be established.

𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀: 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒

Delta State remains another major gap along the planned coastal corridor.

Although the state is officially included in the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway route, recent statements from the Federal Government indicate that the Delta section remains among those yet to receive major construction attention.

Stakeholders in the region have nevertheless begun discussions on how the state and other Niger Delta states can maximise the economic opportunities expected from the highway when construction reaches them.

The proposed highway is expected to improve road connectivity, stimulate coastal commerce, support tourism and open up previously difficult-to-access communities.

For now, however, major concrete pavement construction comparable to the activity seen in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River has not been established in Delta.

𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐒𝐀: 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋-𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Bayelsa is also part of the proposed coastal highway corridor but remains among the states where major construction is yet to begin.

The Federal Government has repeatedly identified Bayelsa alongside Edo, Delta and Rivers as part of the outstanding portions of the project.

The situation has generated interest among communities and stakeholders who see the coastal highway as a potentially transformative infrastructure project for the state.

However, photographs showing road construction equipment in Bayelsa should not automatically be described as Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway works.

The state currently has several other federal and state road projects, making accurate identification of photographs particularly important.

𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒: 𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊

Rivers State is another strategically important section of the planned coastal corridor that is still awaiting major works.

The state is officially part of the route, but the latest ministerial statements place Rivers among the outstanding sections.

The development has created confusion on social media because Rivers currently has several major road projects under construction.

One notable example is the Bodo–Bonny Road, which involves significant construction activity and impressive bridge and road infrastructure.

However, photographs from the Bodo–Bonny project should not be presented as Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway photographs without verification.

The distinction is important because both projects operate within the wider Niger Delta region but are separate infrastructure schemes.

𝐀𝐊𝐖𝐀 𝐈𝐁𝐎𝐌: 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒

Akwa Ibom State has emerged as one of the most significant active construction fronts of the project.

The Federal Ministry of Works has reported substantial progress on the first Akwa Ibom section, measuring approximately 47 kilometres, with the project said to be more than 60 per cent complete.

Construction has also commenced on another longer section covering approximately 180 kilometres of dual carriageway.

During a field inspection on August 19, 2026, construction activities were reportedly observed around chainages CH 6+000 to CH 27+800, including earthworks, rigid pavement construction and associated infrastructure around Southern Uruan, Idu and Eweme.

The Federal Government has also signed an agreement covering approximately 82.8 kilometres of dual carriageway under the newly structured Section 5.

The scale of activity makes Akwa Ibom one of the key states to watch as the coastal highway moves towards the Cross River end of the corridor.

𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑: 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐑 𝐄𝐍𝐃

At the eastern end of the project, Cross River State has also recorded significant construction activity.

Sections 3A and 3B were officially flagged off in April 2025.

By April 2026, approximately 4.5 kilometres of rigid pavement had reportedly been completed on Section 3B, despite challenging terrain involving hills, valleys, wetlands and heavy rainfall.

By August 2026, the Minister of Works said approximately 27 kilometres around Calabar was active, with construction progress reportedly exceeding 30 per cent.

Reports from communities along the Cross River corridor have also highlighted the potential social and economic benefits of the project, including improved accessibility and employment opportunities.

 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄-𝐁𝐘-𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞	𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Lagos---	Section 1 substantially completed; Section 2 highly advanced
Ogun----	Active construction and concrete pavement works
Ondo----	Foundation and earthworks underway
Edo------	Major coastal-highway construction still outstanding
Delta----	Major coastal-highway construction still outstanding
Bayelsa--	Major coastal-highway construction still outstanding
Rivers---	Major coastal-highway construction still outstanding
Akwa Ibom-----	Multiple active construction fronts
Cross River----	Rigid pavement and associated works progressing

𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐄

The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway has generated intense discussion across Facebook and other social-media platforms.

Supporters of the project have described the highway as one of the Federal Government's most ambitious infrastructure projects, pointing to photographs and videos showing concrete pavement and heavy construction equipment along sections of the route.

Among those publicly promoting the project is former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who listed the highway among the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

The project has also faced criticism.

One of the most prominent recent controversies involved former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, whose comments questioning the extent to which the project had progressed beyond Epe generated widespread online debate.

The Presidency and Works Ministry subsequently pointed to construction activities in Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River as evidence that the project had progressed beyond Lagos.

Social-media photographs, however, need to be treated carefully because construction images from different federal road projects in the Niger Delta are sometimes incorrectly attributed to the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀

For communities across the Niger Delta, the most important question is no longer whether the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway exists, but when construction will reach the central Niger Delta corridor.

While significant works are visible in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, the sections covering Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers remain the major missing links.

When completed, the highway is expected to improve movement between coastal communities, reduce travel time, facilitate trade, boost tourism and create new opportunities for investment across the region.

For riverine communities that have historically depended heavily on waterways because of poor road connectivity, the project could represent a major change in access to markets, schools, hospitals and other economic centres.

The latest evidence shows that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway has moved significantly beyond its initial Lagos construction front.

Lagos remains the most advanced section, while active construction is also taking place in Ogun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

However, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers remain the major unfinished portions of the nine-state corridor, according to recent Federal Government statements.

The project therefore remains a work in progress rather than a continuous highway already under construction from Lagos to Calabar.

For the Niger Delta, the next major milestone will be the commencement of substantial construction across the central Niger Delta states, particularly Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers, where communities are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the promised coastal road.

NigerDelta Voice will continue to monitor the project and provide state-by-state updates as construction progresses.

The Creeks Speaks, The World Listens.