Minister of Works, David Umahi has defended the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying a standard kilometer costs N7.5 billion, about $5.5 million.
Umahi stated this during an exclusive interview on Arise Television, where he was asked to justify the high cost of the project.
The minister said Section One of the highway, which is 47.47 kilometers, costs N1.067 trillion.
According to him, the N7.5 billion per kilometer calculation was arrived at after dividing the total cost of the six-lane highway to get the cost of a standard two-lane federal highway.
"A standard coastal road is going for N7.5 billion per kilometer of standard highway. However, this N7.5 billion includes all the fillings, shore protections, solar lighting throughout, and planting of trees," Umahi said.
The former Ebonyi State governor said the price covers concrete pavement designed to last 100 years without maintenance, shoreline protection, retaining walls, solar lighting, flyovers, underpasses, and massive sand filling of up to 20 meters deep in some areas.
"This is an investment that the President is doing, and this is a road that is going to last for another hundred years," he said.
Recall that Umahi had earlier in April 2024 said the road would cost N4 billion per kilometer, a figure that has now almost doubled, sparking criticism.
Umahi, however, insisted that the coastal highway is different from a normal road because of its terrain and features.
He added that by November, motorists would be able to drive from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos through Sections One, Two and part of Section Four into Ondo State.