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147 structures to be affected by coastal highway service lane – EnviroNews
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A total of 147 structures in Lagos will be affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway service lane.
President Bola Tinubu made this known on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at a stakeholder engagement and flag-off of repair works on Eko Bridge and Marine Bridge in Lagos, and the flooded section of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The president said that, of the 147 structures, five would be cut fully and the others minimally.
Tinubu was represented by Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The President noted that Eko Bridge was one of the oldest bridges constructed after Nigeria’s independence, adding that Marine Bridge provided access to the seaports in Lagos State.
He urged Lagos State Government to remain on a trajectory of irreversible development in every nook and cranny of this state.
”Today, in particular, is a day on which we have had extensive stakeholder engagement. We are truly happy with the turnout,” he said.
Tinubu said that the Federal Government had undertaken extensive renovation works in Lagos State.
“As a government, we must acknowledge and appreciate the efforts that have been made. This is about recognising the real work on ground.”
He thanked the stakeholders, saying they had always turned out to discuss with the government anytime needed.
Tinubu praised the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, for his efforts in road infrastructure development.
“For all of us to enjoy the full benefit of infrastructure, we have to shift a bit, so that it becomes an asset that will outlive all of us.”
He said that the stakeholder engagement was aimed at seeking support of the people toward implementation of the projects.
He gave the assurance that the Federal Government would make compensations where necessary.
“It will be given to you at the right time.
“There are days when we accept criticism for us to do better, but there are days when things have been done and they have been done right, and we need to give recognition and support where it is most deserving.
“It is my honour to flag off all of these projects to the benefit of mankind, to our citizens in Lagos, to the benefit of all our people across the country,” Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says it has reconstructed more than 10 bridges in each state of the federation in the past three years.
The government has also rehabilitated over 260 emergency projects nationwide at a total cost of over N250 billion.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the disclosure on Sunday at a stakeholder engagement and flag-off of some road projects in Lagos.
Umahi said that the 260 projects had been completed.
“Let me also say that, under President Bola Tinubu, for the first time, we exposed all the ongoing projects to the ICPC to go around, check procurement, check execution, and give us queries where we have erred, and we will take corrections.
“We have also written to the EFCC to follow suit.
”It shows transparency, it shows commitment, it shows accountability, it shows who President Bola is,” he said.
On Eko Bridge in Lagos State which the government flagged off repair works on, Umahi said that the bridge was in a terrible situation.
“To close the entire section will bring a very devastating situation for our people in Lagos.
“That is why we closed that carriageway – half of it – and we are monitoring the crack on daily basis,” he said.
Umahi said the crack was not increasing, adding that in the remedial work, about seven piles would be reinstalled, the crack section of the pile cap bypassed, and a new pile cap installed.
“That will last for the next 15 to 20 years, and the permanent one is being designed both with our structural engineers and some experts that we consulted outside the country.
“It is going to require taking off, jacking off the entire spans that are affected.
“Then, we place it on a batch and do demolition of the entire pile caps that are affected and install brand new pile caps and pier and then bring back the slab on it,” he said.
On the newly-inagurated 40 guards for protecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said that the guards were for a serious job.
He emphasised that the guards’ duties included eliminating hawking, loitering, commercial motorcycling and refuse dumping from the highway.
Umahi called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect highways against illegal parking and other forms of abuse.
“Their primary responsibility is to maintain strategic infrastructure.
“They have to see that parking on our highways, on our roads should be stopped.
“They need to see that their primary responsibility of maintaining our strategic infrastructure is implemented; so, we have to involve them here,” he said.
Similarly, the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has praised the Lagos State Government for support for Federal Government’s infrastructure development in the commercial city.
Umahi also urged the state government to provide more support as the Federal Government would begin construction of the service lane of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He spoke at a stakeholder engagement on the coastal highway and some other projects in the state.
The decision to construct service lanes and secondary drainage channels on Sections 1 and 2 of the highway project was prompted by recent heavy rainfalls and flooding experienced in Lagos.
Umahi said, “You have to bring money, Governor, to do the service lanes, and also to do the drainage channels. We must join hands to solve this problem for the sake of our people,” he said.
He said that Lot 1 of the coastal highway had been completed and Lot 2, over 80 per cent done.
“We have done over 30 per cent of the job in Calabar and Akwa Ibom. We have started the largest section, 180km by two,” he said.
He gave the assurance that the highway project would be completed in time.
“We want everybody on this corridor, the entire Nigerians that are benefitting and will benefit from this coastal highway construction to continue to pray for and support the President.”
Umahi expressed dissatisfaction at the attitude of unpatriotic Nigerians vandalising national assets.
“It is very disheartening. The effort they are putting to destroy national assets, if they put it in labour in all construction sites of state governments and the Federal Government, they will make more money.
“It is devilish, wickedness and unacceptable; so, we have to come together to protect our national assets.
“When these roads are built under the President, it will last for a hundred years but when the roads are excavated and removed, we will be back to square one,” he said.
By Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe