The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway construction is expected to be completed by January 2026.

Umahi made the disclosure during an inspection tour of the highway on Wednesday.

“We came to review the project with the financial promoters – Dutch Bank and Development Bank of Southern Africa,” he said.

“I assure you that by January next year, God willing, we will have this road completed,” the minister said.

Umahi said that the financial promoters of the highway were satisfied with the work progress, quality, method, and every other thing about the project.

He also praised the contractor handling the project, Hitech Construction Company, for its efforts.

“The road is exceptionally technically well-designed.

“The concrete thickness is designed for 275 millimetres, but what they are doing is 280 millimetres.

“I commend also the department in charge of this project – the Department of Bridge and Roads, and, of course, the controller of works in Lagos,” he said.

Umahi said that the greatest worry he could have would be motorists joining the highway from their ‘houses’.

“It is going to be a very serious issue, so we have to design a barrier.

“I know that you are putting a retaining wall, but you have not incorporated a retaining wall all through.”

He said that, as a superhighway, it would be expected that motorists would join it at flyovers and interchanges to avoid gridlock.