Lagos Hits Pause on Building Permits Along Coastal Highway

The Lagos State Government has temporarily stopped issuing building permits along the planned route of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This decision is part of efforts to ensure the massive road project fits well with the city's ongoing and future development plans.

According to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, this pause is necessary to avoid conflicts between the highway and existing planning documents such as the Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan, Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan, and the Ode-Omi Action Area Plan. These plans are already being rolled out, and the government wants to make sure the new highway supports—not disrupts—them.

The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) will enforce this suspension until further notice. While this may delay some projects in high-demand areas like Lekki, officials say it’s only a short-term measure to ensure long-term benefits.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the major infrastructure projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The full highway will stretch 750 kilometers from Lagos to Cross River State, passing through several coastal communities. Construction began in March 2024, with the first phase covering 47.5 kilometers from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village. A key part of this phase runs through Lagos and links up with the Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Industrial Corridor.

Though construction is already underway, the full six-lane highway is still in progress. Once completed, it’s expected to boost transportation, attract investment, and drive growth across the region.