FG Reaffirms 21-Month Completion Timeline for Lekki Deep Seaport–Epe Access Road

The Federal Government has reiterated that the 25km access road connecting the Lekki Deep Seaport to Epe and Ijebu-Ode will be completed within the planned 21-month timeframe.

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, gave the assurance on Sunday during an inspection of the project in Lagos, describing the road as highly viable and firmly on track.

Umahi expressed confidence in China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the project contractor, noting that the firm secured the job through a competitive bidding process and had previously delivered major projects, including the Lekki Deep Seaport, the Keffi–Makurdi Super Highway, and the ongoing Makurdi–Enugu road works.

“The project is 50km in total – 25km by two carriageways, six lanes with major bridges of about 3.5km and 2.4km. I believe strongly that China Harbour will complete this job within 21 months,” the minister said.

He explained that the Federal Government had already paid 30% of the project cost, while the contractor would finance the remaining 70% under an EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Finance) model. The loan, he added, would be repaid through tolling once the road becomes operational.

Umahi noted that feasibility studies confirmed the project’s financial sustainability.
“China Harbour will have the right of first refusal when government begins the process of operation and maintenance. We have done the traffic counts and this road can pay for itself,” he said.

He also highlighted transparency safeguards built into the financing structure, pointing out that Section 1 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway was oversubscribed by $100 million when presented to international lenders led by the Dutch Development Bank.

“They told us the project was undervalued. International funders are meticulous; they do not disburse without going to site. With the involvement of the Debt Management Office, Ministry of Finance and the attorney-general, there is little room for anything other than due process,” Umahi added.

The minister said the total cost of the access road would be disclosed after adjustments to both the naira and dollar components. He acknowledged some challenges being addressed, including ongoing discussions with China Harbour, Dangote Group, and the Lagos State Government regarding a possible redesign of a section initially planned as a three-kilometre bridge.

He also referenced a delay caused by a shrine located along the road corridor.
“I have removed shrines in many places. If the people do not remove this one, I will come and remove it myself,” he said.

Mr Oyeneye Damola, representing the project’s engineers, explained that the road—designed as a three-lane dual carriageway—was being constructed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) and that environmental and technical issues had been factored into its design.

Mr Musa Saidu, Director of Bridges and Design at the Federal Ministry of Works, confirmed that his team was addressing concerns involving gas pipelines serving the Dangote Refinery and the Lekki Free Zone, while assuring that community-related issues would also be resolved.

The Managing Director of China Harbour, Mr Jason Wang, pledged that the company would deliver a high-quality project “without excuses.”

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