My take on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road

By Bayo Adeyinka

I have been taking the Coastal Road for about two weeks now. It has become my default route since reconstruction works commenced on the Lekki- Epe Road. The Coastal Road is a beautiful road. Well-constructed (even though so much is still going on).

Driving on the road at night gives you some semblance of hope that we can get it right as a nation- especially when you see the solar lights making the road well illuminated.

From Ogombo Road to VI is just about 18 minutes (barring slight traffic at some intersections). I love the views on both sides- at some point, you view the Atlantic Ocean at a stretch. Just imagine if we have at least 4 roads like that every 4 years. Or is that too much to ask? Having tasted this road, I am not sure I will go back to Lekki-Epe Expressway unless I have something important to do there.

I fully support that it should be tolled for its maintenance. There should also be shoulders for ambulances, rest rooms, etc along the road. I believe those should be part of the layout. I have followed all the various controversies on the road, but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

However, I think the Coastal Road will become too small to accommodate the traffic through that axis shortly. The road is barely 3 lanes on both sides- I think there shouldn’t have been less than 6 lanes on either lane. We need to develop a culture of building for tomorrow- not just for today. With Nigeria’s expected population boom, we should keep an eye on the future when planning. The Coastal Road should never become another Lekki- Epe Expressway.

It is also immediately expedient that law and order should be enforced on that road. Traffic violations should be dealt with.

Commercial motorcycles popularly called Okadas have almost turned the Coastal Road into a nightmare as they face ‘one-way’.

Rubbish is piling up along some parts. Many people sleep on the road. Some ‘boys’ hang out at various points on the road- many of them watching as cars drive along the road. That road needs to be kept safe 24 hours.

There is room for improvement but the Coastal Road is a great step taken. May Nigeria win.

*Mr Bayo Adeyinka, a banker, public affairs analyst and social entrepreneur, wrote in from Lagos