The Apapa-Oshodi expressway expansion that commenced in 2018 is expected to be completed this year, paving way for eased gridlock and economic boost for the country. This is a significant road in the city that connects the Lagos ports (Apapa and Tin Can) with other parts of the city. It is especially important as 75% of Nigeria’s imports passed through Lagos ports in 2017, and 99% of Nigeria’s trade is by sea.
The highway’s rehabilitation will ease huge pressure on infrastructure in Africa’s largest city of 21m. Lagos is famous for its traffic, has no public rail system and few roads connecting residential and commercial quarters. City planners are currently building an urban light rail system which they say will be ready by 2022.
Dangote Group kicked-off construction work on the road in 2018 as part of a deal with the Nigerian government that would see the company enjoy a 10-year tax rebate worth $201m (N72.9 billion). A project to rebuild the road in 2013 costing $441 million stalled in 2015.
This is the first time the highway is being overhauled since it was built in 1978, adding ten lanes to the system and repairing and reinforcing it connecting arteries.