Africa's incredible new seaside motorway costing £9.4bn and a huge 435 miles long

An incredible new construction project is underway in Africa, which intends to connect the continent's biggest city by population with another city on the other side of the country via a 435-mile motorway. Nigeria's Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, currently under development by the Federal Ministry of Works, is planned to run from Victoria Island in Lagos on the southwest coast to Calabar, the capital of Cross River State in the southeast.

The road will pass through seven states, including Ogun and Ondo, before ending in Calabar. Construction began in March last year, under the administration of Bola Tinubu, the 16th president of Nigeria, with the first phase stretching over 29 miles from Lagos. Currently home to 20 million people, Lagos has become a "megacity" and is on track to become the largest city in the world by the end of the century, with a projected population of around 100 million people. Lagos is also one of the world’s fastest-growing economic hubs, attracting people in search of jobs and business opportunities. It's no surprise, therefore, that the Nigerian government is keen to expand the road network to and from the city.

The highway is expected to be completed in eight years and is intended to improve cross-country connectivity and trade relations. With initial estimated costs of between $11 billion and $12.5 billion (£8.3 to £9.5 billion), commenters have regularly questioned the priority of such an expensive project given the country's economic condition.

Despite being Africa's largest economy, Nigeria faces significant economic challenges and high levels of poverty. It is classified as a middle-income country, with a diverse economy driven by oil, agriculture and services.

In addition, the quick passage of the funding bill in parliament and the award of the contract to a firm connected to the president raised suspicions. The first phase of the project was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.

The planned motorway route traverses a range of sensitive areas, including wetlands and mangroves. Concerns have been raised about the impact of heavy machinery during construction and post-construction impacts of soil erosion and increased surface water runoff, disturbing aquatic ecosystems. The road itself may also disrupt migratory patterns for local wildlife and increase their likelihood of becoming roadkill.

Furthermore, several businesses and homes have been slated for demolition to clear the path for the motorway. Among the impacted businesses were portions of Landmark Leisure Beach.

In May, President Tinubu formally commissioned the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The 19-mile stretch, known as Section 1, runs from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Junction in Lagos State.

The event, attended by government officials and contractors, was described by the presidency as a major step forward in implementing a nationally strategic project. However, the commissioning drew mixed reactions from the public and commentators. Critics noted that only a small portion of the planned 435-mile motorway had been completed at the time, calling the ceremony premature.

Others questioned the decision to celebrate progress before substantial work had been done across the remaining segments. Analysts also highlighted concerns about potential political motives behind the event.