The Federal Government has assured that the 25-kilometre access road linking Lekki Deep Seaport to Epe and Ijebu-Ode will be completed within the planned 21-month schedule, describing the project as “highly viable and fully on course.”
The assurance came from the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, during an inspection of the project site in Lagos on Sunday.
Senator Umahi also expressed confidence in China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the contractor overseeing the construction, citing its previous accomplishments, including the Lekki Deep Seaport, Keffi–Makurdi Super Highway, and the ongoing Makurdi–Enugu Road projects.
His words: “The project is 50 kilometres in total – 25km by two carriageways, six lanes with major bridges of about 3.5km and 2.4km.
”I believe strongly that China Harbour will complete this job within 21 months,” Umahi said.
According to the minister, 30 per cent of the project cost has already been paid by the Federal Government, with the remaining 70 per cent to be sourced by CHEC under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance (EPC+F) arrangement.
The loan for the project would be repaid through tolling along the corridor once completed.
Umahi further highlighted that feasibility studies confirmed the economic viability of the project, and he affirmed that CHEC would have first refusal rights for operation and maintenance once the road is operational.
“We have done the traffic counts and this road can pay for itself,” he said, stressing that the financing structure includes strong transparency safeguards, involving the Debt Management Office, Ministry of Finance, and the Attorney-General.
He also noted that Section 1 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway was oversubscribed by 100 million dollars when presented to international lenders led by the Dutch Development Bank, further reinforcing confidence in project viability.
Umahi acknowledged ongoing discussions with CHEC, Dangote Group, and Lagos State Government to redesign a section of the project, where a three-kilometre bridge may be replaced with backfilling across a non-flowing lagoon.
He also mentioned minor delays due to a shrine along the corridor but assured that this would not hinder overall progress.
“I have removed shrines in many places. If the people do not remove this one, I will come and remove it myself,” Umahi said.
Engineers on the project, led by Mr. Oyeneye Damola, noted that the three-lane dual carriageway would be constructed on Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), taking into account all environmental and technical challenges.
Mr Musa Saidu, Director of Bridges and Design at the Ministry of Works, said his team was addressing concerns over gas pipelines supplying the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Free Zone and expressed confidence that community-related issues would be resolved.
Mr. Jason Wang, Managing Director of China Harbour, assured that the company would deliver a high-quality project without excuses, reiterating the commitment to timelines and standards.
The project, a key infrastructural link to the Lekki Deep Seaport, is expected to significantly enhance trade, logistics, and regional connectivity, supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and industrialisation efforts.
