Umahi: 50-Year-Old Dumpsite Delayed Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway by Four Months
Story: Written by Zara September 30,2025
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has revealed that construction of the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway was delayed for four months due to a massive refuse dump more than 50 years old and over 10 metres deep.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday during an inspection of the project, Umahi explained that engineers discovered the dumpsite spanning nearly two kilometres along the construction corridor.
“We encountered a refuse dump that had been there for over 50 years, with more than 10 metres of depth, stretching across two kilometres. Because of this, we had to halt work for more than four months,” Umahi stated.
Landmark Beach Spared After Design Change
Umahi also addressed concerns about Landmark Beach, which was initially in the path of the six-lane coastal road. He clarified that the ministry redesigned the alignment to preserve the popular leisure destination.
“As a responsible ministry, we varied the design of the highway to avoid demolishing Landmark Beach. Contrary to public perception, the beach was not touched—only surrounding shanties were cleared. We split the highway into three lanes on each side to protect the property,” he explained.
N15 Billion Spent on Unexpected Challenges
The minister disclosed that the federal government had spent about ₦15 billion tackling unforeseen engineering challenges, including excavation and site redesigns.
“I have directed that all drawings, videos, and records of the additional works must be properly documented,” Umahi said.
Contractor Confirms Redesign and Waste Removal
Dany Abboud, Managing Director of Hitech Construction Company Ltd., confirmed that engineers had to split the eastbound and westbound carriageways at kilometre 2.7 to avoid demolitions, before merging again at kilometre 5.
He added that extensive waste deposits were discovered between kilometres 3 and 9, with the largest dumpsites located at kilometres 4 and 9.
“We had to excavate the dumps to significant depths and replace them with sand before continuing the construction,” Abboud explained.
The Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, a flagship infrastructure project, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and connectivity across Nigeria’s southern corridor once completed.
