DAWN, BRACED to harness economic benefits of N15.6trn Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

…Project could transform Nigeria’s economic outlook – Stakeholders 

The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, the think-tank and the Secretariat for the South-West States, is poised to collaborate with Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission to harness the benefits of the 750-Kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal road which stakeholders say could significantly transform Nigeria’s economic outlook.

Speaking at a Stakeholders meeting organised by DAWN in Ibadan on how to maximise the economic benefits of the 750-Kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of the Commission, described the highway project as a major turning point for Southern Nigeria’s economic growth.

While stressing the need for early collaboration, he stated that “DAWN is planning to bring in the three South-West States—Lagos, Ogun and Ondo, we are also inviting the BRACED Commission, which covers the South-South States, because the road runs parallel along those States, the idea is that for the South-West region to harness the benefits of that road, so there has to be structured development along that corridor.”

Themed, “Unlocking Economic Potentials of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Land Governance and Regional Alignment for the South-West Corrifor”, the event brought together Government officials, development experts policymakers and other stakeholders, Oyeleye, who warned against repeating past mistakes, stated, “So we decided to bring in the critical States along what we have called the game changer for Southern Nigeria to chart a coordinated development strategy.

According to him, “this is the biggest infrastructural project estimated at $11–13 billion (N15.6 trillion) that has happened in the last 65 years of Nigeria which is the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway. With this magnificent project, States must not be working in silos but coming together to take advantage, such mistakes should not be repeated on this infrastructure. We have seen it happen in different parts of the world, where a coastal road like this becomes a major catalyst for development.”

The DAWN DG, who stated that Stakeholders should not wait for the completion of the road but to start planning revealed that stakeholders were considering a joint development framework

“Fom discussions so far, we are already talking about collaborative work—how Lagos, Ogun and Ondo can work together. We are talking about creating industrial zones, green zones and tourism zones. Therefore from this meeting, we hope to agree on a joint body that will supervise development along this corridor. Then we will have a team working solely for development along the coastal corridor. It has to happen as soon as possible,”.

Joe Keshi, Director-General of the BRACED Commission, who emphasised the importance of planning and political will among State Governments, noted that the meeting marked the beginning of deliberate planning to avoid chaotic development along the corridor.

According to him, this is the beginning of a conversation to ensure that we do not fail to plan, so that we do not end up with the haphazard developments that have plagued our roads in Nigeria. It will be a tragedy if a beautiful road like the coastal road ends up looking like some of the roads we have today.

“We want to encourage our governors to develop the political will to understand that this road could be a game changer for all the southern states if they simply do the right thing. And the right thing is to plan. The road is the first thing, but what comes after the road is what we are discussing here—how to ensure that it improves the Nigerian economy and does not become another example of unplanned development,” Keshi stated.

Speakers at the gathering called for synergy among States, the Federal Government and relevant agencies to unlock the full economic potential of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

Wale Opayinka, Managing Director/CEO of Makaya Consult FZD, noted that collaboration among States are critical to achieving these projections, saying the “values we have talked about can only happen if the States worked together as a union. If they don’t work together, all the value we are projecting will not be realised. It does not stop with Lagos, Ogun and Ondo; it also involves Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. If they do not do the right thing on their side, it undermines everything else.”

Emphasising the vast economic opportunities tied to the project, he said that proper planning could unlock massive long-term value.

While pointing out that the project could significantly transform Nigeria’s economic outlook, he posited that “we are talking about moving the Nigerian economy from under $400 billion today to between $1.4 trillion and $14 trillion over the next 50 years. This gives us an opportunity to build a multi-trillion-dollar economy and position Nigeria among the top economies in the world.”