President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday officially commissioned the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, alongside multiple landmark road projects across Nigeria, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to local content, infrastructure excellence, and national development.
The commissioning, held in Lagos, marked the formal unveiling of Phase I: Section I of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project — a major stretch from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in the Lekki Peninsula. The coastal road will eventually connect several states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
President Tinubu emphasized the need for strict adherence to urban planning laws and legal building setbacks, declaring that developers who violate these regulations would no longer receive any form of compensation.
“Let me warn all the developers that the Federal Government will enforce setbacks,” Tinubu declared. “Developers who fail to get approvals will not be compensated. We have gazetted and published the setback, and we will enforce it in any way possible.”
The President directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and other cabinet members overseeing national infrastructure projects to ensure strict compliance with local content laws, including training of Nigerians and technology transfer.
“This is about empowering our people, building with our own, and transferring knowledge. We will no longer tolerate shortcuts,” he said.
He also praised the engineering feat that averted environmental catastrophe along the Lagos shoreline. “I said we would do it, and we did. We averted a disaster greater than a tsunami in Victoria Island and Ikoyi,” he said, lauding Engineer Ronald Chagoury for efforts in halting the Atlantic Ocean’s advance.
Thanking Nigerians for their patience, Tinubu reassured citizens of economic recovery. “I want to appeal to all Nigerians that hope is here. Our economy is recovering,” he said, noting recent foreign exchange stabilization and food price reduction.
The President also commended the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, the Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, and the contractors, particularly Hitech Construction Company, for delivering world-standard results.
“It is most pleasing to note that the highway was constructed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement instead of Flexible Pavement, thereby assuring durability,” Tinubu said.
Projects commissioned across Nigeria included:
South-South: Rehabilitation of Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road, dualisation of East-West Road from Eleme Junction to Ahoada, upgrading of Alesi-Ugep Road, and 15km Port Harcourt-Onne Port Junction section.
South-East: Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Section III (Enugu-Lokpanta), the Akpoha bridge in Ebonyi, and the reconstruction of the collapsed Enugu Bridge at New Artisan Market.
South-West: Expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Road (Section II), Ikorodu-Shagamu Road, emergency repairs on the Eko Bridge (Alaka to Apongbon), and Deep-Sea Port Access Road via Epe to Shagamu–Benin Expressway.
North-Central: Construction of the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State and Ilobu-Enrile Road in Kwara and Osun States.
North-East: Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State.
North-West: Reconstructed Yakasai Badume-Damargu-Marken Zalli Roads and Kano-Kwanar Danja-Hadeja Road (Section II).
Flag-off of new projects included:
Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Akure-Benin Road,
Nembe-Brass Road,
Enugu-Onitsha Carriageway (107km),
Zaria-Hunkuyi-Kufur-Gidan Mutum Daya Road,
Kano-Maiduguri Road dualisation (Section I),
Kano Northern Bypass, and
Maiduguri Bypass Road.
The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, revealed that the Federal Government had disbursed N18 billion as compensation to those affected by the Lagos-Calabar highway construction. He added that President Tinubu instructed that all infrastructure projects must prioritize the well-being of Nigerians and environmental sustainability.
The event was attended by the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, who pledged continued legislative support to reposition the nation’s economy, as well as governors from Lagos, Delta, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Borno, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, and Imo States.
Notable personalities including Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, business magnates Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Tony Elumelu were also present, alongside contractors and top government officials.
