Lagos Suspends Building Permits Along Coastal Highway Route to Align with Urban Development Plans
June 16, 2025
In a strategic move to ensure urban coherence, the Lagos State Government has temporarily suspended the issuance of building permits along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor. The decision aims to align the ongoing megaproject with the state’s comprehensive physical development and urban planning frameworks.
The announcement was made on Monday, June 16, 2025, by Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, through a statement issued by Mukaila Sanusi, Director of Public Affairs for the ministry.
According to Dr. Olumide, the suspension is a proactive step to avoid distortion of urban plans and to integrate the massive coastal highway project into the state’s existing and emerging development schemes.
“As a result of the effects of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on our Development Plans, it is germane to review the situation on ground and align it with the Development Plans to forestall any further distortion now or in the future,” Olumide stated.
“In this connection, it is equally important to temporarily suspend Planning Approvals in the axis until further notice.”
The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) has been directed to implement and enforce the suspension across the affected zones.
Urban Development at the Core
This temporary measure is expected to impact key urban frameworks such as the Ode-Omi Action Area Plan, the Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan, and the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan—each representing pivotal components of Lagos’s ongoing transformation into a structured, smart mega-city.
Olumide emphasized that while the suspension may seem like a setback for developers, it is a necessary adjustment to ensure a harmonious integration of the coastal road project into the state’s long-term sustainable development agenda.
“This does not mean we are halting progress. On the contrary, we are creating the foundation for a more organized, resilient, and economically vibrant Lagos. The coastal highway will ultimately benefit the state, but only if it is integrated correctly.”
About the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a landmark infrastructure initiative championed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Stretching approximately 750 kilometers, the road is designed to link Lagos with Cross River State, traversing seven coastal states including Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
The first phase of the project, awarded to Hitech Construction Company, spans 47.47 kilometers—beginning from Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island and extending to Eleko Village in the Ibeju-Lekki axis. Construction began in March 2024, with portions of the highway already commissioned by President Tinubu earlier this year.
Section 2 of Phase 1, also located within Lagos State, stretches an additional 55 kilometers from Eleko to the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Dangote Industrial Corridor. According to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, a substantial segment of this section has already been completed, and work is ongoing.
Looking Ahead
With Lagos facing rapid population growth, infrastructural expansion, and environmental pressures, experts say such temporary suspensions are necessary to prevent long-term planning conflicts and ensure urban integrity.
This latest development underscores the Lagos State Government’s commitment to sustainable development, urban order, and strategic planning amid one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure endeavors.
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