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Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Contract Awarded To Hitech Construction Company – FG.
By Anthony Beauty
Lagos – The award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction contract has been granted to Hitech Road Construction Company by the Federal Government. The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made the announcement during a meeting held in Lagos with engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractor’s team.
Umahi highlighted that this project, aimed at improving national connectivity, aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to Nigeria’s restoration and rapid development. “President Tinubu is eager to fast-track the project’s commencement as part of his nation-improvement initiatives.” Umahi stressed.
The minister revealed that this initial meeting marked the first step, with another meeting scheduled in two weeks to finalize construction agreements. The project will be executed as a Public Private Partnership and will include tolls upon completion, with funding already secured by the contractor.
Phased Construction, Rail Integration, and Tolling Strategy.
Umahi outlined the project’s phased construction approach, including rail integration and toll collection strategy on every completed sections. The highway will link the Lagos-Badagry Expressway Superhighway, the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Lekki Deep Sea Port Road, and connect various points in Northern Nigeria via Ogoja-Ikom.
This highway will serve as a crucial link between South West, South East, the Niger Delta Coast of the South-South, and other regions, integrating with existing federal roads to promote economic and social development across the country.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will begin at Victoria Island near Eko Atlantic City, pass through the Lekki Coastal Road, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the Dangote Refinery. It will connect Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Aqua-Ibom, and reach Calabar, with careful consideration for environmental and safety factors, particularly in oil-producing areas
The proposed project, spanning roughly 650 to 700 kilometers in its initial design, is set to incorporate rail lines running within the central lanes of the primary roadways.
Governor Umahi disclosed that this endeavor aims to invigorate the tourism sector and introduce industrial hubs encompassing hotels, factories, residential complexes, and various essential amenities.
The minister underscored the pioneering utilization of 11-inch-thick concrete roadways reinforced with 20-millimeter materials. This approach will promote local cement production, enhance steel manufacturing capabilities in Ajaokuta, and harness Nigeria’s abundant bitumen resources
In his words:
- “It is quite innovative and the giant of Africa is beginning to show her prowess and this is being revitalized by the captain of the ship, his excellency President Bola Tinubu.
- “So, this is beautiful. Another good news is that this is going to be built on a concrete road of 11 inches thick with 20-millimeter reinforcement.”
Minister Umahi further acknowledged that the project would face difficulties as it traverses mangroves, marshy regions, flood plains, and diverse soil compositions. Consequently, a blend of construction techniques, such as pile-supported decks, sand filling, and retaining walls, will be utilized to overcome these challenges.
In Umahi words:
“And so, there will be a combination of all kinds of construction methods, the deck on pile would be there, the sand filling would be there, the retaining walls would be there.
“So, it’s a very ambitious project, quite technical and highly rewarding.”
The second meeting, scheduled in two weeks, will focus on the business case study, allowing the project to progress to the design phase. Umahi noted that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a groundbreaking project, the first of its kind in Africa.
“So, the second meeting will come up in two weeks where the business case study will be exposed to us, and we will give them a letter to own the project and then to engage in the design.
“The Lagos-Port Harcourt-Calabar Coastal Highway is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa,”
The Significance and Environmental Aspects of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project.
Nicholas Rizk, the consultant representing Hitech Construction Company, underscored the appropriateness of the chosen construction techniques for a country as vast as Nigeria.
He stressed the project’s far-reaching impact, spanning various geographical terrains and delivering substantial benefits to nine states along its course.
This highway, when completed, will forge critical connections at both national and international scales, serving as an essential conduit linking the South West, South East, South-South, Niger Delta, and other regions.
Moreover, it will seamlessly integrate with the existing federal road network, fostering economic and social progress throughout the nation
In Rizk’s words: “We are connecting nine states and this road.
“In addition to the integration at the national level for Southwest and Southeast, South-South and Niger Delta, it connects with the Federal Roads going from Lagos to Sokoto.
“From Warri to Kaduna, from Port Harcourt to Kano-Maiduguri, and from Calabar to Maiduguri.
“So as the Minister mentioned, we have this coastal highway that is more or less 10 to 12 kilometres away from the shorelines to consider the issue of erosion and the sensitive environmental areas.”
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, as explained by Rizk, commences from Victoria Island near Eko Atlantic City and traverses through key points such as the Lekki Coastal Road, Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the Dangote Refinery. It ultimately links Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, and culminates in Calabar. Additionally, Rizk outlined the project’s careful consideration of health, safety, and environmental concerns, with a special focus on regions involved in oil production.
IduwiniVoice recall that the Coastal Highway Project received traction over ten years ago when the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC embarked on and completed the Survey, and submitted the report to the Jonathan Administration, whose sketchy moves to concession the project to a consortium Chinese firms fisseled away with the change of regime.
It remains to be seen if the Tinubu Administration can muster an inroad into arguably one of the largest construction ventures across Africa.
Breaking
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSOR AMUPITAN AS INEC CHAIRMAN
The National Council of State has approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit. Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.
In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.
Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, is a Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau. He is also an alumnus of the university.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
October 9, 2025
By: Divine Perezide
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed media reports suggesting that it has suspended the Delineation of Electoral Wards in Warri Federal Constituency, covering Warri South, Warri South-West, and Warri North Local Government Areas.
The rebuttal followed a report by the Punch Newspaper claiming that an INEC official had hinted at a suspension in connection with the Supreme Court judgement of December 2, 2022. INEC clarified such reports were misleading.
In a statement issued on Sunday, INEC emphasized “the commission has not taken any decision regarding the delineation exercise in the Warri Federal Constituency. Reports alleging suspension are inaccurate and do not reflect the position of INEC.
The Commission noted that it remains committed to upholding the Supreme Court judgment but insisted that due process and broad consultation must guide every step of the delineation process.
A senior Electoral Officer, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, stressed that INEC’s mandate cannot be subjected to misrepresentation. “We must be clear: no suspension has been declared. What we have is an ongoing consultation process to ensure compliance with legal and constitutional provisions,” he stated.
The Supreme Court ruling of December 2022 had directed INEC to ensure fair representation of all ethnic nationalities within the Warri Federal Constituency by reviewing and delineation wards accordingly.
INEC assured stakeholders, particularly in Delta State, that it would communicate its position at the appropriate time, adding that it remains committed to transparent and credible Electoral Reforms.
(c) IduwiniVoice
By: Favour Bibaikefie
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced the withdrawal of services at Dangote Refinery and all Oil Installations following what it described as the unlawful dismissal of more than 80 of its members.
In a statement released by the union, the PENGASSAN condemned whT it termed “Dangote Refinery unilateral action to sack ova 800 members of our association for joining our union,” BBC Pidgin reported.
The association further described the move as “an affront to all workers for Nigeria and deliberate violation of Nigeria labour laws, di Constitution, and ILO convention.”
The mass sack has drawn significant concerns across labour circles, with PENGASSAN warning that such practices could set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of workers in the country’s oil and gas sector.
Reacting to the development, Dangote Refinery said it had taken necessary steps within the boundaries of law and industrial practice. While the company the company did not provide a detailed explanation for the dismissal, it insisted its actions were guided by operational realities.
Labour watchers say the dispute could escalate into a major confrontation unless urgent mediation is initiated by the federal government via the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The refinery, commissioned to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s energy sector, now faces its first major labour crisis since operations began.