A significant project is underway to construct an extensive coastal highway along the Atlantic coast, raising notable concerns. This 430-mile motorway will connect Nigeria’s bustling capital Lagos with Calabar city, situated near the Cameroon border, with an estimated cost of around £8.5 billion.
The initiative, spearheaded by Nigerian president Bola Tinubu, aims to transform the country’s transportation infrastructure and enhance tourism. Despite environmentalists expressing serious worries about the highway’s vulnerability to projected sea level increases in the next decade, Tinubu remains committed to the project, emphasizing its longevity and impact.
Environmental campaigner Nnimmo Bassey has strongly criticized the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, labeling it as a symbol of climate denial due to the escalating sea levels along Nigeria’s coastline. The project, scheduled for completion by 2028, faces significant risks from rising sea levels, as highlighted by Bassey.
Nigeria, being highly susceptible to rising sea levels, has already experienced substantial losses due to ocean surges, such as the fishing port of Aiyetoro in Ondo State. Despite these concerns, President Tinubu views the highway as a pivotal component of his re-election campaign and a crucial driver of Nigeria’s economic progress.
Orji Uchenna Orji, an advisor to Nigeria’s public works minister, David Umahi, envisions the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a transformative development that will significantly impact the nation’s political and economic landscape. The project’s $12 billion budget is expected to be funded with 30% from the government and the remainder by the contractor, Hitech Construction Company Ltd., which will recoup its investment through toll collection over 15 years.
Hitech, known for projects like Eko Atlantic, plans to safeguard the highway with measures such as sea walls, mangrove belts, and dunes to mitigate erosion and carbon absorption. However, concerns persist over the environmental repercussions of the highway, particularly its impact on areas like Stubbs Creek Forest in Akwa Ibom state, which is home to endangered species.
A study published in the Journal of African Earth Sciences in 2022 revealed significant coastline recession in Lagos State over the past few decades. Despite environmental impact assessments suggesting the highway’s resilience to 0.5-meter sea level rises, forecasts indicate that global warming may lead to more substantial increases, posing challenges for the project’s long-term sustainability.