The Federal Government has confirmed that the first 47-kilometre stretch of the Lagos,Calabar Coastal Highway will be opened to motorists in December 2025. Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced this during an inspection tour on Sunday, noting that the opening is planned for between December 12 and 17. He emphasised that both the government and the contractor are committed to delivering this segment of the 750-kilometre highway, which will link nine coastal states.
Umahi explained that the directive to complete the work came from the President, stressing that the aim is to ensure unhindered access from channel 0 to channel 47, extending towards channel 55. He reiterated that the ministry has agreed with the contractor on the December deadline and that efforts are ongoing to meet the target. Beyond the December opening, he revealed that Section 1 and half of Section 2 are expected to be completed by April next year for commissioning, excluding the bridges, which fall under Section 2. He added that the full completion of Section 1 and part of Section 2 is targeted for April 2026.
In a separate development, Umahi addressed the recent controversy involving Stella Okengwu of Winhomes Global Services Limited. He noted that a Federal High Court ruling had dismissed her suit against the Lagos,Calabar Coastal Highway project for lacking merit. The minister said Okengwu had repeatedly accused him of diverting the highway route into what she described as a Winhomes residential estate in Okun Ajah, allegedly jeopardising a $250 million investment. However, Umahi clarified that what was claimed to be a residential project was merely a gatehouse with no substantial development.
He further stated that Okengwu’s own court filings contradicted her public claims. According to documents submitted in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1803/2024, she had affirmed that Winhomes had already sold the land in question to third parties. This admission, he said, invalidated the company’s assertions and demonstrated a clear inconsistency between its media statements and its legal submissions.
Umahi explained that the court dismissed the case because Okengwu and her company no longer had a proprietary interest in the land, and therefore lacked the locus standi to sue. The court also concluded that the plaintiffs failed to present a reasonable cause of action. He accused Okengwu of spreading misinformation to deter foreign investors and discredit the government’s infrastructure efforts. According to him, her allegations were exposed as baseless, demonstrating an attempt to mislead the public and undermine the progress of the Renewed Hope administration.
He urged Nigerians to disregard her claims, emphasising that the Lagos,Calabar Coastal Highway project remains on course and is a critical component of the government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s road network. The scheduled opening of the first section in December 2025 marks a significant step in efforts to improve connectivity and boost economic development across the coastal corridor.
