NIGERIA: Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will be tolled immediately upon completion and inauguration, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, confirmed on Saturday during an inspection of the ongoing project.
“I must emphasise that this road is going to be tolled, and it is part of the contractor’s package,” Umahi said. “I will be inviting the contractor to give us the programme. I don’t want to open this road permanently for traffic and then start discussing tolling. The contractor must provide the schedule and begin building the necessary infrastructure before the end of April. Therefore, tolling will commence as soon as the road is completed and commissioned,” reports National Accord.
Addressing concerns over budget adjustments due to the highway’s realignment, Umahi assured that there would be no further increases.
“We have concluded the re-measurements. As a country facing numerous challenges, and after consulting with the Bureau of Public Procurement, there is no room to increase the project budget further,” he said.
Umahi explained that the project has already seen an increase of N170 billion due to factors such as diversion to protect high-rise buildings, shore protection work, and the evacuation of extensive refuse dumps—some as deep as 15 metres and stretching over several kilometres.
“Hitech Construction has to take on these risks, and this is part of its contribution to nation-building,” the minister added.
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project is being executed by Hitech Construction Company Ltd., according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
