Analyzing Umahi’s Explanation for the Lack of Coastal Project Funding in the 2025 Budget
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has addressed concerns regarding the omission of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project from the 2025 federal budget. He clarified that the project was mistakenly listed as the “Lagos-Port Harcourt Coastal Road” due to a typographical error. Umahi assured that his ministry is collaborating with the National Assembly to correct this mistake and ensure the project’s inclusion in the budget.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road is a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity along Nigeria’s southern coastline. The project is expected to cost approximately N4 billion per kilometer and is structured as an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Plus (EPC+) arrangement, requiring the federal government to provide counterpart funding.
Umahi emphasized that the project was never intended as a public-private partnership (PPP) but as an EPC+ structure, highlighting the necessity for federal funding to advance the initiative.
The misclassification in the budget has raised concerns, especially given the demolition of properties in the Lagos axis to make way for the project. Umahi’s clarification aims to address these concerns and reaffirm the government’s commitment to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.