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With President Bola Tinubu scheduled to commission a 30-kilometre stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on 25 May 2025, the House of Representatives Committee on Works has announced plans to carry out an oversight visit to assess the project’s readiness.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Akin Alabi, is expected to inspect the ongoing construction to ensure it meets the required standards before the formal inauguration by the president.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, designed to improve connectivity between Lagos and Calabar while passing through key states along the country’s southern coastline. The first phase of the development spans 47.47 kilometres, linking Victoria Island to the Lekki Deep Seaport. Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, recently confirmed that 30 kilometres of this stretch will be ready for commissioning by late May.

“As a Committee, it is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that all federal infrastructure projects are executed in accordance with the highest standards of quality, transparency, and accountability,” Alabi said. “The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a significant investment by the Nigerian people, and we must do our due diligence before its commissioning.”

The committee’s oversight visit, according to Alabi, will focus on key elements of project delivery, including the quality of construction, compliance with timelines, and the incorporation of necessary safety features. He said such scrutiny was essential to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and to reassure Nigerians of the project’s integrity.

“Our visit is not just a routine check,” Alabi added. “We want to ensure that when Mr. President arrives to commission this road, he is doing so on a stretch that reflects value for money, durability, and safety for all users. This is about performance and project delivery.”

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has drawn public interest and debate, particularly regarding its cost and the pace of execution. The proposed inspection by the House Committee is intended to address those concerns and demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in infrastructure development.

With the commissioning date drawing near, attention now turns to the completion of the section under review. The coastal highway is expected to transform transport and trade along Nigeria’s southern corridor and stimulate economic growth across the region.