Civil society organisations, opposition party figures, and economic experts have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as a landmark initiative capable of transforming Nigeria’s infrastructure and boosting economic growth.
The commendations came during a project inspection tour in Lagos, led by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, where stakeholders noted the quality of execution and urged Nigerians to rise above political divides in supporting developmental projects.
Umahi disclosed that the first section of the 750-kilometre coastal highway—stretching from Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, to Eleko, Lagos—would be completed by May 2026. He said 35 kilometres had already been delivered, leaving 12 kilometres to finish the initial 47-kilometre segment. Work, he added, had also commenced on the second section from Eleko to Ode-Omi, Ogun State.
The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to save properties such as the Landmark Centre, clear refuse to a depth of 10 metres, and deploy concrete technology to ensure road durability. “Emerging economies like India have adopted concrete for enduring roads, and Nigeria must follow suit,” he said.
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and convener of The Alternative, stressed the need for national consensus on development. “Beyond our political ideological differences, we need to, as a nation, breathe in and out to explore how to achieve consensus to develop our nation,” he said. Drawing on global examples, he added: “When you look at countries like Singapore, India, and UAE, their achievements have come through building consensus for national development. A nation at 65 must be in a hurry to link its infrastructure to model after globally competitive economies.”
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Olufemi Awoyemi, Chairman of Proshare Group, described the coastal highway as a “test case” for financing large infrastructure projects. “This is an alternative, providing a primary route for cross-country connectivity, away from congestion, and a test case for big infrastructure projects and their financing,” he said. According to him, the project has the potential to open new trade routes, ease transport bottlenecks, and stimulate investment in adjoining communities.
Leaders of more than 20 civil society organisations also joined the tour. Declan Ihekaire, one of the representatives, welcomed the government’s decision to involve stakeholders in monitoring the project. “We, as CSOs, must not condemn every time. When we see where they are getting it right, we should talk so that we encourage them. Ultimately, the beneficiaries of good initiatives are the people,” he said.
Umahi also addressed concerns about properties allegedly affected by the highway. He assured that due process would be followed, promising investigations into issues around WinHomes and claims of $200 million in diaspora real estate investments. “We will involve the EFCC and DSS to investigate the matter alongside civil society organisations,” he said, adding that the ministry would provide regular briefings to ensure transparency.
Beyond the coastal highway, Umahi outlined three other “legacy projects” under Tinubu’s administration: the 477-kilometre Trans-Saharan Highway linking Calabar to the FCT, the 422-kilometre Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Expressway, and the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway. “Roads and bridges are the infrastructure that build the GDP of every nation,” he said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has this knowledge; he demonstrated it as Governor of Lagos State, which today is an economy within an economy.”
Stakeholders at the inspection agreed that Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges required collective action rather than political rivalry. “Consensus is the key,” Showunmi reiterated.
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, projected at 750 kilometres, is one of the most ambitious road projects in Africa. With sections already underway and the first stretch due in 2026, the project has attracted rare bipartisan praise—suggesting that infrastructure could be the bridge for consensus in Nigeria’s divided political landscape.
