A substantial coastal roadway is under construction along the Atlantic coast, despite significant apprehensions. The 430-mile highway will connect Nigeria’s bustling capital, Lagos, with Calabar city near the Cameroonian border, with an estimated cost of around £8.5 billion.
The initiative, spearheaded by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, aims to modernize the nation’s transportation infrastructure and enhance tourism. Tinubu, during an event marking the opening of the initial section of the highway, emphasized its enduring impact, stating, “We have a road that will outlast all of us here.”
However, environmentalists have expressed grave concerns, noting the highway’s susceptibility to projected sea level increases in the upcoming years. Nnimmo Bassey, a prominent environmental campaigner, labeled the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as “the epitome of climate denial,” emphasizing the rapid rise in sea levels along the Nigerian coastline.
Despite the environmental risks, President Tinubu remains resolute in advancing the project as a focal point of his re-election campaign. The long-awaited road, in planning for nearly five decades, is viewed by Tinubu and supporters as a crucial step forward for Nigeria’s economic progress.
The government is anticipated to fund 30% of the $12 billion budget for the road, with the remaining costs borne by the contractor, Hitech Construction Company Ltd. Hitech will implement toll collection on the highway for 15 years to recoup its investment.
Hitech, the company behind the privately financed $6 billion Eko Atlantic mega-city project near Lagos, plans to safeguard the new road with sea walls, mangrove belts, and dunes to mitigate erosion and absorb carbon, akin to the protective measures at Eko Atlantic.
Concerns also loom over the potential environmental impact of the highway, with worries that it may exacerbate existing environmental degradation in Nigeria. The road’s route through Stubbs Creek Forest in Akwa Ibom state, a protected area housing endangered species, raises conservation concerns amid significant forest cover loss in Nigeria.
Studies have indicated significant coastal erosion in Lagos State, reinforcing the need for robust environmental assessments. The submitted environmental impact assessment for the Lagos State section of the road suggests that a sea level rise of 0.5 meters would not impede the project, despite projections of future sea level increases due to global warming.
Despite environmental challenges and opposition, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway remains a focal point for Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural development, exemplifying a significant undertaking in the nation’s trajectory.