Stakeholders from the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and the BRACED Commission, which represents Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo States, have resolved to jointly examine investment prospects connected to the proposed 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project. The strategic session took place at the DAWN Commission corporate headquarters located inside Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan, where delegates from South-West state governments, South-South representatives, and several institutional partners gathered to discuss long-term economic planning tied to the coastal corridor. During deliberations, participants explained that careful and coordinated development along the coastal road could transform the economic outlook of Nigeria. According to projections presented at the meeting, proper utilisation of the opportunities along the corridor may raise the country’s Gross Domestic Product from the present level of about $400 billion to a range between $1.4 trillion and $14 trillion within the next five decades. Need for structured development along the coastal corridor In his opening remarks, the Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye, stated that the organisation brought together stakeholders from both South-West and South-South regions to design a clear framework for maximising the economic value of the coastal highway. He described the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road as the most extensive infrastructure initiative undertaken in Nigeria in more than six decades, stressing that such a project must be guided by organised planning to prevent the mistakes experienced in previous large-scale developments. Oyeleye explained that the commission invited Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo States alongside the BRACED member states because the highway corridor runs across these regions. According to him, only a coordinated strategy involving all affected states can guarantee that the economic potential of the road will be fully realised. He emphasised that collaboration should focus on the creation of industrial clusters, environmental conservation zones, tourism centres, and commercial hubs along the route so that the project will produce long-term economic benefits rather than unplanned expansion. The Director-General warned that past infrastructure projects in Nigeria suffered from poor coordination because states often worked independently without a shared development plan. He noted that global examples show that properly managed coastal highways usually become powerful drivers of industrial growth, tourism, and regional trade. Oyeleye added that planning must begin immediately instead of waiting until construction is completed. According to him, discussions are already ongoing on how Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo States can jointly design development zones that will operate as integrated economic corridors. He also disclosed that one of the expected outcomes of the meeting is the establishment of a joint supervisory body that will manage physical development, land use, and investment activities along the coastal route. Economic projection shows massive growth potential Delivering a lecture titled “Unlocking Economic Potentials of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway: Land Governance and Regional Alignment for the South-West Corridor,” the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Makaya Consult, Eko Atlantic City, Olawale Opayinka, said the coastal highway presents one of the biggest economic opportunities in Nigeria’s history. He explained that the highway stretches for more than 700 kilometres and provides a development corridor covering hundreds of square kilometres of land that can be used for housing, industry, tourism, agriculture, and logistics. Opayinka noted that Nigeria’s population is expected to grow significantly in the next fifty years, and if development along the corridor is properly coordinated, the enterprise value created along the route could range from $1.4 trillion at the minimum to about $14 trillion at the highest level. He stressed that these projections depend largely on cooperation among all the states connected to the road, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River. According to him, failure by any of the states to follow a unified plan could weaken the entire project. He further explained that the coastal highway has the potential to change Nigeria’s economic position globally by expanding industrial capacity, encouraging foreign investment, and improving transportation efficiency. According to Opayinka, the opportunity created by the project could move Nigeria’s economy from its current level of under $400 billion to a multi-trillion-dollar economy within the next five decades if the development is properly managed. Call for proper planning and political commitment Also speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of the BRACED Commission, Joe Keshi, highlighted the importance of early planning, stating that the project should not follow the pattern of uncoordinated growth seen in many existing highways across the country. He explained that the meeting marked the beginning of a long-term discussion aimed at ensuring that development along the coastal road follows a structured plan similar to successful coastal infrastructure projects in other parts of the world. Keshi said it would be disappointing if such a major national infrastructure eventually suffers from the same lack of planning that affected previous projects. He therefore urged state governments to show strong political will in supporting a common development framework. According to him, the road itself is only the starting point, while the real economic benefit will come from the industries, tourism centres, housing estates, and commercial activities that will grow along the corridor. Stakeholders emphasise zoning, security and regional cooperation Other participants at the programme included Commissioners for Physical Planning and Urban Development from Ogun, Ondo, and Lagos States — Tunji Odunlami, Sunday Olajide, and Olayinka Abiodun — as well as the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwasesan Fagbayi. They all stressed the need for strong cooperation among states to ensure that the project leads to organised economic expansion. Additional contributors such as Muyiwa Ige, the South-West Zonal Head of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Ololade Okeowo, Executive Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited Yemi Ajao, retired Director of Federal Highways Folorunso Esan, and the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment Tajudeen Gaji also highlighted the importance of land management, security planning, and proper governance structures. They concluded that close collaboration between state governments, the Federal Government, and relevant agencies will be essential for unlocking the full economic value of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project.
