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Minister of Works, Eng. David Umahi, on Thursday evening, analyzed projects inherited from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in different parts of the country, saying the President is determined to improve the living conditions of Nigerians through infrastructure.
Addressing the press at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja, Umahi said President Tinubu is working round the clock to leave legacies for Nigerians and should be appreciated, supported and re-elected in 2027.
He said the highway projects inherited from President Tinubu are designed to connect every region of the country to spur economic growth and transform national transportation.
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
Providing a comprehensive update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the project and other legacy projects are being executed in phases with due consideration to engineering standards, sustainability and available financing.
He said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been officially named “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Highway”, in recognition of the President’s vision and commitment to actualizing a project that remained unrealized for decades.
The Minister said Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway extends from Victoria Island to Lekki Deep Seaport and covers 70.4 kilometers as a dual carriageway with a central rail corridor and is progressing steadily.
He said section two of the project, which extends for about 55 kilometers from Eleko Interchange to the Ondo State border, is about 50% completed and is expected to be substantially completed by November this year.
Umahi revealed that several bridges currently under construction are part of the tender for that section.
The Minister said the project incorporates advanced engineering designs, including bridge spans of up to 80 metres, significantly larger than conventional bridge spans, to accommodate heavy industrial traffic.
Furthermore, Umahi said Section Three, which covers Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, has reached about 80 percent completion, while Section Four, which extends towards Ondo State, covers 82 kilometers and is about 20 percent complete.
“Another 180-kilometer stretch has already been awarded and construction has begun, despite mobilization payments still to be made,” he said.
Floods, procurement charges
Umahi also responded to criticism that the coastal highway would worsen flooding in Lagos, saying technical investigations carried out by ministry officials had completely disproved the allegations.
He said a joint inspection conducted on July 4 and 5 determined that the highway serves as a protective barrier against storm surges from the Atlantic Ocean rather than causing flooding, adding that the real challenge affects communities located on the southern side of the highway, which remain directly exposed to the Atlantic Ocean.
Recalling his experience as a young engineer working in Lagos around 2002, Umahi said Victoria Island was once regularly submerged during heavy rains, forcing businesses to close and residents to abandon their homes.
He commended President Tinubu, then governor of Lagos State, for initiating the land reclamation project that eventually produced Eko Atlantic City,
He said the same engineering expertise is now being employed on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Responding to allegations regarding the award of the contract, Umahi insisted that the procurement fully complied with the Public Procurement Act.
He said the Nigerian Procurement Law recognizes three procurement methods open to competitive bidding, restricted tendering and special procurement.
Minister Umahi said the Coastal Highway qualified for special procurement due to the specialized coastal engineering technology required for the project.
The Minister said Hitech Construction Company remains the only local contractor with proven experience in reclaiming land from the Atlantic Ocean and implementing the engineering solutions needed to withstand severe ocean storm surges.
He revealed that during construction, powerful ocean waves threatened already completed sections, but engineers managed to stabilize the highway using the same technology previously used at Eko Atlantic.
He added that both the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the procurement process, adding that international financiers independently assessed the project and concluded that it represented good value for money.
The minister said funding requests for Sections One and Two were oversubscribed by more than $100 million, describing this as strong evidence of global investor confidence in the project.
Sokoto-Badagry Expressway
On the Sokoto-Badagry expressway, Umahi described the project as another transformative legacy project, saying a 120-kilometre section was about 70 per cent complete, another 82-kilometre section reached about 40 per cent completion, while a further 162.35-kilometre stretch was over 80 per cent complete.
He said once the remaining sections are procured, Nigeria will see the completion of one of Africa’s largest highway corridors which will enhance economic activities.
He explained that all existing highways are being developed as part of an integrated national transportation network.
Umahi also revealed plans for Africa’s first undersea tunnel, linked by a 21-kilometre access road and around 20 kilometers of underwater construction before connecting to Victoria Island.
The minister said the coastal highway will seamlessly connect with the Trans-Nigeria Highway and existing corridors leading to Abuja, Apapa and other major economic centres, adding that ongoing projects linking Sokoto, Kano and other northern states will also integrate into the national network, creating seamless transport corridors across the country.
Trans-Nigeria Highway
Minister Umahi revealed that work has begun on the Trans-Nigeria Highway, with construction of the first section already underway.
He said the corridor will connect Bayelsa, Enugu, Kogi, Abuja and many other states, reducing travel time and improving movement of goods and services, adding that the Fourth Legacy Highway will pass through Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states.
He said President Tinubu had approved an additional 800 kilometers for the project, thus increasing its total length to about 1,100 kilometres.
Umahi said a major bridge project originally awarded in 2008 but abandoned has been revived in Taraba state, saying the project will significantly improve connectivity between Taraba and Plateau states.
He listed further strategic road projects among the recently approved projects, including the reconstruction of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using continuous reinforced concrete pavements, which are expected to last between 50 and 100 years.
He said there are further strategic road projects across the South East and the continued expansion of national highway corridors linking major commercial and agricultural centres.
Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road
Speaking on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, Umahi said solar-powered street lights will be installed on sections of the highway.
“The first 180-kilometer section has been completed. Another 102 kilometers are being reconstructed using reinforced concrete pavement. Solar-powered street lighting is being installed on sections of the highway. The project is worth around ₦502 billion, with more than 80% of the contract value already paid,” he said.
On technology transfer
Umahi said President Tinubu’s administration has introduced a comprehensive technology transfer program to ensure Nigerian engineers acquire modern construction skills.
He said the initiative will strengthen local engineering capacity and enable local companies to execute similar large-scale projects in the future.
“Young engineers from all states of the federation, he said, are being recruited for specialized training under ongoing projects, while contractors are expected to transfer technology, technical knowledge and equipment to Nigerian professionals,” he said.
Recognizing the growing impact of climate change, Umahi said ongoing projects now incorporate higher embankments, improved drainage systems, reinforced concrete pavements and improved flood control measures to reduce erosion and protect highways from flooding.
Umahi revealed the development of service corridors along major highways to accommodate fuel stations, emergency response facilities, logistics centres, rest areas and other commercial infrastructure that will boost economic activities.
The minister expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for infrastructure development, maintaining that the administration remains committed to delivering durable, climate-resilient and economically transformative highways that will connect communities, promote national integration and accelerate Nigeria’s economic development.
