Business
Lagos-Calabar Highway Will Cut Logistics Cost By 15%, Says NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will serve as a transformative infrastructure project, driving economic growth and national integration.
In its weekly publication, The Explainer, the NOA quoted David Umahi, minister of works, as describing the 700-kilometre 10-lane superhighway as a “blueprint for national transformation.”
According to the agency, the minister said the project will reduce travel time between Lagos and Calabar from 12 hours to just 4.5 hours, reduce logistics costs by 15-20 percent, and empower over 500,000 small businesses.
“This is not just road construction—it’s an investment in Nigeria’s future,” Umahi was quoted as saying.
“It is a visionary undertaking that will drive inclusive development, improve access to markets, and empower over 500,000 small businesses along the corridor.
“The project links the industrial strength of Lagos with the agricultural potential of the Niger Delta and Southeast, while addressing key infrastructure, economic and security challenges.”
In the report, the minister also highlighted the project’s potential to increase Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2 percent by creating new industrial corridors, expanded trade, and enhanced tourism access along the coastal route.
The NOA said the Lagos-Calabar highway is expected to generate 10,000 direct jobs in construction and engineering, and over 15,000 indirect jobs in logistics, materials supply, and support services.
“The highway is expected to boost tourism revenue by 25 per cent by providing access to underutilised beaches such as Ilashe Island in Lagos and Ibeno Beach in Akwa Ibom State,” the agency said.
“Its eco-friendly elements, such as reforestation initiatives and a rail system to reduce emissions, align with sustainable development goals.
“The road’s design features solar-powered CCTV surveillance systems for safety, a central rail line for integrated transport, and a tolling system to ensure sustainability. It is financed through a 30 percent public and 70 percent private investment model, with full cost recovery targeted over 15 years.
“The project is comparable to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, which generates €3 billion annually,” the agency stated, adding that its environmental components—such as mangrove restoration and wildlife corridor designs—are aligned with international standards.”
The NOA also said the highway is a strategic step toward closing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, which it noted stands at 30 percent of GDP — well below the World Bank’s 70 percent benchmark.
Citing the 2025 Appropriation Act, the agency applauded the Tinubu administration for allocating N23.96 trillion to capital expenditures, which, for the first time in decades, surpasses recurrent spending, which is pegged at N13.64 trillion.
“This shift reflects a clear commitment to reversing decades of underinvestment in public infrastructure,” the NOA said.
The agency noted that the highway is one of several signature projects, alongside the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway and Eastern railway, geared toward unlocking regional development and national productivity.
President Bola Tinubu had said the road is a “pathway to prosperity” and a symbol of national unity while commissioning the projects to mark his two years in office.
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The Nigerian currency, Naira (₦), continued its battle against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Saturday.
Daily Voice reports that data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the local currency sold at ₦1,321.2160/1$ on Sunday.
The latest rate is the same as Saturday’s rate of ₦1,321.2160/1$.
At the parallel market (black market), however, the naira closed on Sunday at ₦1,400 to the dollar.
The offers by commercial banks, Bureau de Change (BDC) operators, and other foreign exchange dealers may, however, differ from the reference rates due to transaction margins and prevailing demand and supply conditions.
Market participants will continue to monitor foreign exchange inflows, demand for dollars, and CBN policies for indications of whether the naira can sustain its gains through the month.
Cement prices in Nigeria remain elevated, with a 50kg bag selling for between ₦12,000 and ₦15,000 in many markets, putting further pressure on builders, contractors and Nigerians planning construction projects.
The latest market data shows that although some brands are currently available below the ₦15,000 mark, the industry remains significantly more expensive than it was at the end of 2025 and early 2026.
Recent market quotations show the following indicative prices for a 50kg bag:
Note: prices may vary by location and transportation costs.
These figures are based on a September 1 market report and can vary depending on location, transportation costs, dealer margins and supply conditions.
However, July industry data painted a more expensive picture. CementNet reported retail prices of ₦12,000 to ₦15,000, with Dangote selling for about ₦13,000–₦15,000, BUA at ₦12,000–₦14,500, and HBM Nigeria, formerly Lafarge Africa, at ₦12,000–₦13,500.
The latest figures suggest that cement prices may have eased from the highest quotations seen earlier in the year, but the broader trend remains upward.
In July, The Guardian reported that a 50kg bag typically sold for ₦12,500–₦15,000 across major markets including Lagos, Abuja and Abia.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also reported that prices had reached between ₦13,000 and ₦15,000 in some locations during the first half of 2026.
This means the current ₦12,000–₦14,000 quotations for several major brands should be viewed as some market-level moderation rather than a broad collapse in cement prices.
Why cement remains high
High energy and transportation costs continue to weigh heavily on the industry. Cement manufacturing requires significant amounts of energy, while moving cement from factories and depots to retail markets adds further costs.
Location is also playing an important role. Buyers in areas farther from production centres can pay substantially more because of haulage and distribution expenses.
The situation is particularly significant because Nigeria has substantial cement production capacity, yet retail prices remain high. The Guardian reported that domestic production exceeds consumption, with surplus output exported to neighbouring countries.
Nigerian civil servants on Grade Level 8 now earn between N1,479,276 and N1,914,514 annually, depending on their step within the scale, following the new minimum wage signed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The figures fall under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), the framework that governs pay across Nigeria’s federal civil service.
CONPSS covers 17 grade levels in total, and a worker’s position within each level is shaped by their qualifications, length of service, and performance record.
Grade Level 8 has 14 steps, with each step representing a progression in earnings. Below is the full breakdown:
The gap between the lowest and highest steps at this level amounts to N435,238, reflecting how significantly length of service can affect take-home pay within a single grade.
Interest in the salary structure has grown since Tinubu’s government approved a new national minimum wage, which triggered a review of earnings across the public sector. Civil servants and job seekers have been keenly examining each grade level to understand what the adjusted structure means in practical terms.
Workers at Grade Level 8 are typically mid-level employees with some years of experience in the civil service. Their earnings sit above the entry-level grades but below the senior cadre, making this level a reference point for many who are planning career progression within the federal workforce.
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