The Federal Government has temporarily opened Section 1 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, a 47-kilometre stretch linking Ahmadu Bello Way junction to Eleko village junction in Lagos State, to ease traffic congestion during the festive period.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the development on Friday at an event in Lagos attended by government officials, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders. He said the partial opening followed a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improve traffic flow and commuter movement along the Lekki–Ajah corridor.

Umahi said the opening marks the fulfilment of the Federal Government’s commitment to road users, noting that the highway would significantly reduce the persistent traffic challenges and harsh driving conditions experienced in the area.

Recalling an inspection tour of the project on November 23, 2025, the minister said he had promised that Section 1 would be completed and opened to traffic between December 12 and 17, 2025, a pledge he said has now been honoured.

He disclosed that April 2026 has been set as the target date for the full completion of Section 1, alongside half of Section 2, excluding bridges, which are being handled under a separate contract.

According to Umahi, the road is expected to cut travel time by more than 100 per cent and substantially reduce transportation costs for commuters and businesses operating along the corridor.

The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is a flagship infrastructure project designed to span about 700 kilometres across nine coastal states, starting from Lagos and ending in Cross River State, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.

The project was approved by the Federal Executive Council in February 2024, with construction on the Lagos axis commencing in March and officially flagged off by President Tinubu in May 2024. Estimated to cost about ₦4 billion per kilometre, the highway is projected to be completed within eight years.