Tinubu commissions Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

….Warning Property Developers against violation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the first phase of the ambitious Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to local content, technology transfer, and infrastructure development across Nigeria.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Saturday in Lagos, President Tinubu emphasized the government’s resolve to enforce urban planning regulations, warning property developers against violating building setbacks and bypassing statutory approvals.

“Let me warn all developers that the Federal Government will enforce setbacks. 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,” he stated.

The commissioned Phase I, Section I of the 700km highway stretches from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in the Lekki Peninsula and is part of a corridor designed to connect coastal states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.

The project is being executed by Hitech Construction Company, using reinforced concrete pavement for enhanced durability.

The President lauded Hitech for its world-class standards and praised Engineer Ronald Chagoury’s efforts in safeguarding Victoria Island and Ikoyi from ocean encroachment.

“I said that we would do it, and we did. We averted a disaster greater than a tsunami,” he said, urging more collaboration to drive infrastructure transformation.

President Tinubu also commissioned multiple completed projects across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. These include:

South-South: Rehabilitation of Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road, East-West Road dualisation (Eleme–Ahoada), and other key sections in Cross River and Rivers States.

South-East: Rehabilitated Enugu-Port Harcourt Road (Section III), a new bridge at Akpoha, and reconstruction of a collapsed bridge in Enugu.

South-West: Rehabilitation of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Expressway (Section II), Ikorodu-Shagamu Road, and repairs on the Eko Bridge.

North-Central: Shendam Bridge (Plateau) and Ilobu-Enrile Road (Kwara/Osun).

North-East: Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State.

North-West: Yakasai Badume-Damargu-Marken Zalli Roads and Kano-Tsalle road section in Kano and Jigawa States.

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In addition, the President flagged off several new projects, including the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Akure-Benin Road, Nembe-Brass Road, Enugu-Onitsha Carriageway (107km), and the Kano-Maiduguri Road (Section I). The dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri Road and construction of Maiduguri and Kano Northern Bypass roads were also launched.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed that ₦18 billion had been paid in compensation to those affected by the Lagos-Calabar highway. He affirmed the President’s directive that all projects prioritize sustainability and the welfare of Nigerians.

The commissioning ceremony drew a high-profile audience including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, governors from 11 states, and business leaders such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Tony Elumelu.

President Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain patient as reforms continue to stabilize the economy, noting improved foreign exchange conditions and food price reductions.

“Hope is here. Our economy is recovering,” he said.