Crack on Lagos-Calabar coastal highway not structural defect- Umahi

…FG faces N3tn funding gap as NNPCL halts road project financing

By Kunle Sanni

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has debunked fears of structural failure on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, following viral images of a visible crack on a section of the project.

The Minister clarified that the affected portion is an uncompleted section of the road’s shoulder, not the main carriageway, and poses no threat to the structural integrity of the highway.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Umahi said he had received over 500 messages from concerned Nigerians about the crack, but stressed that the alarm was unfounded and misleading.

“I was wondering whether they’re sending it in good faith or just trying to mock the project,” he said. “Let me tell you that nothing is happening — absolutely nothing! That crack is on the shoulder of the road, which is still under construction. The main carriageway is intact and has no issues.”

He added, “There is no section of the completed carriageway that has cracked, and it will not crack.”

Umahi urged the public to ignore social media speculation, assuring that the project remains structurally sound and on track.

Beyond the highway issue, the Minister revealed a major financial challenge threatening dozens of road infrastructure projects across the country.

According to Umahi, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has ceased funding road projects under its tax credit scheme as of August 1, creating a ₦3 trillion funding shortfall.