In a bold reaffirmation of his administration’s infrastructure drive, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday commissioned the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, alongside several other key road projects across the country.
According to a statement signed by the spokesperson to the president, Bayo Onanuga, the move marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push for regional connectivity, job creation, and local content development.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Lagos, President Tinubu reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to technology transfer, Nigerian empowerment, and adherence to local content laws in all federally funded infrastructure projects.
Addressing a crowd of dignitaries and stakeholders, the President directed the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and other officials overseeing construction projects nationwide to enforce compliance with legal building setbacks, proper urban planning, and the laws guiding project execution.
“Let me warn all developers that the Federal Government will enforce setbacks, not out of malice, but in the national interest. Developers who fail to obtain necessary approvals will not be compensated. These regulations have been gazetted and will be enforced”, Tinubu declared.
He praised engineer Ronald Chagoury for his pivotal role in containing the Atlantic Ocean’s incursion that once threatened to consume parts of Victoria Island and Ikoyi, crediting him and his team with averting a disaster “greater than a tsunami.”
“I said we would do it and we did. This project is not just about roads; it’s about vision, resilience, and doing the impossible”, Tinubu said.
The President also used the occasion to appeal for patience from Nigerians as his government works to stabilise the economy.
He expressed optimism about ongoing improvements, citing a more stable foreign exchange market and signs of easing food inflation.
“Hope is here. Our economy is recovering. The progress we are making is real, and together we will achieve more”, he said.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700km stretch cutting across nine coastal states from Lagos to Cross River, is one of the largest infrastructure investments in Nigeria’s history.
Phase I of the project spans from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in the Lekki Peninsula. Notably, it features Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement, a move away from the conventional flexible pavement method, promising enhanced durability and lower maintenance costs.
The President commended Hitech Construction Company Ltd. for executing the project to international standards and underscored the role of local firms in nation-building adding, “This proves Nigerian firms can meet world-class standards.”.
In addition to the Lagos-Calabar project, Tinubu commissioned an extensive list of completed and ongoing roadworks across all six geopolitical zones:
South-South:
- Rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road (Section II)
- Dualisation of the East-West Road (Eleme Junction to Ahoada)
- Upgrading of the East-West Road from Eleme Junction to Onne Port
- Rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep Road in Cross River State
South-East:
- Reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road (Section III)
- Construction of a new bridge at Akpoha, Ebonyi State
- Rebuilding of the collapsed Enugu Bridge near Artisan Market
South-West:
- Rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Expressway (Section II)
- Overhaul of the Ikorodu-Shagamu Road
- Comprehensive repair of the Eko Bridge (4.1km)
- Construction of the Deep-Sea Port Access Road via Epe to the Benin Expressway
North-Central:
- Construction of the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State
- Completion of the Ilobu-Erinle Road linking Kwara and Osun States
North-East:
- Commissioning of the Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State
North-West:
- Reconstruction of Yakasai Badume-Damargu-Marken Zalli Roads in Kano
- Rebuilding of Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadeja Road (Section II)
President Tinubu also flagged off several new strategic projects:
- Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Akure-Benin Road (across Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Edo States)
- Construction of the Nembe-Brass Road in Bayelsa
- A 107km stretch of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway
- Rehabilitation of the Zaria-Hunkuyi-Kufur-Gidan Mutum Daya Road (Kaduna/Kano)
- Dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri Road (Section I: Kano-Wudil-Shuarin)
- Kano Northern Bypass Road and the Maiduguri Bypass Road
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was present at the ceremony, pledged continued support from the National Assembly for the Tinubu administration’s economic agenda.
Minister of Works David Umahi revealed that the government has paid over ₦18 billion in compensation to individuals and entities affected by the Lagos-Calabar highway project, stressing that every step is guided by sustainability and the well-being of Nigerians.
The event drew an impressive array of attendees, including state governors from Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Borno, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, and Imo States. Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Chagoury brothers, and top industrialists such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu were also in attendance.
As the government looks to the future, Saturday’s commissioning marks not only a celebration of infrastructure but also a clarion call for renewed national optimism.
