May 31, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, commissioned the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway along with several other strategic road infrastructure projects across the country, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to local content, technology transfer, and national development.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held at Kilometre 8 of the project corridor near Jakande Estate in Lagos, the President directed the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and other ministers overseeing federal infrastructure projects to enforce compliance with regulations on local participation, skill transfer, and the training of Nigerian professionals.
Tinubu also issued a stern warning to real estate developers, declaring that the Federal Government would no longer compensate owners of structures built without proper approvals or in violation of designated setbacks.
“Let me warn all developers that the Federal Government will enforce setbacks—if not for anything, for the interest of the nation. Developers who fail to obtain approvals will not be compensated. We have gazetted and published the setbacks, and we will enforce them in every possible way,” he said.
The President commended Engineer Ronald Chagoury and his team for their work in halting the Atlantic Ocean’s encroachment on Victoria Island and Ikoyi, describing it as a near-miraculous feat that saved Lagos from an environmental catastrophe.
“I said we would do it, and we did. We averted a disaster greater than a tsunami,” he stated.
Appealing for continued public patience in light of ongoing economic reforms, Tinubu assured Nigerians that the nation’s economy is on a recovery path, citing improvements in foreign exchange stability and a gradual easing of food inflation.
“Hope is here. Our economy is recovering. I appeal to Nigerians to be more patient with us. The reward of our hard work is beginning to manifest,” he said.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway—one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects—is a 700-kilometre corridor traversing nine coastal states: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River. The completed Phase I, Section I, stretches from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village along the Lekki Peninsula.
Tinubu lauded Hitech Construction Company for adopting the Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology—an alternative to the conventional flexible pavement—ensuring the project’s durability and longer lifespan.
“This project demonstrates that Nigerian firms can meet world-class standards in infrastructure delivery,” he said, applauding the use of indigenous expertise and innovation.
Among the commissioned projects in the South-South region are the rehabilitation of the Calabar–Ugep–Katsina-Ala Road (Section II), the dualisation of the East-West Road from Eleme Junction to Ahoada in Rivers State, the rehabilitation of the Alesi–Ugep Section in Cross River, and the upgrade of the Eleme Junction–Onne Port Road covering 15 kilometres.
In the South-East, completed works include the Enugu–Port Harcourt Road (Section III from Enugu to Lokpanta), a new bridge at Akpoha in Ebonyi State, and the reconstruction of the Enugu Bridge at New Artisan Market.
The South-West saw the commissioning of the Lagos–Shagamu–Ibadan Expressway (Section II in Oyo State), Ikorodu–Shagamu Road in Lagos, emergency repairs on Eko Bridge (Alaka–Apongbon section), and the Deep-Sea Port Access Road from Epe to the Shagamu–Benin Expressway.
In the North-Central region, the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State and the Ilobu–Erinle Road, which connects Kwara and Osun States, were completed and commissioned.
The North-East benefitted from the completed Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State, while the North-West region saw the delivery of the Yakasai–Badume–Damargu–Marken Zalli Road in Kano and the Kano–Kwanar Danja–Hadejia Road, connecting Kano and Jigawa states.
Several new projects were also flagged off, including the Ibadan–Ife–Ilesha–Akure–Benin Road across Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Edo states; the Nembe–Brass Road in Bayelsa; the 107-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha Carriageway; the Zaria–Hunkuyi–Kufur–Gidan Mutum Daya Road in Kaduna and Kano; the Kano–Maiduguri Dualisation project from Kano to Wudil and Shuarin spanning 105 kilometres; the Kano Northern Bypass; and the Maiduguri Bypass.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who attended the event, pledged the National Assembly’s continued support for the administration’s infrastructure drive and economic reforms.
Also speaking, Minister of Works David Umahi revealed that the Federal Government had spent ₦18 billion on compensation for individuals affected by the Lagos-Calabar Highway construction. He reaffirmed the President’s directive that all projects must prioritise the welfare of Nigerians and environmental sustainability.
The event was attended by governors from Lagos, Delta, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Borno, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Cross River, and Imo States. Other notable attendees included Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Chagoury brothers, and business leaders such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu.
President Tinubu ended his address with a call for public ownership and protection of national assets.
“These projects belong to all Nigerians. Let us protect and maintain them so that generations after us can benefit.”
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