President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, unveiling a 30-kilometer stretch from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in Lagos on May 31, 2025.
The milestone marks the beginning of a 700-kilometer superhighway designed to link nine coastal states and reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.
Conceived by Tinubu nearly three decades ago and now realized under his Renewed Hope Agenda, the expressway is seen as a cornerstone of national transformation – intended to boost trade, tourism, connectivity, and job creation. Built by Hitech Construction Limited using the resilient Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) method, the project is expected to impact over 30 million Nigerians.
“This is not just a road – it’s an economic lifeline and a symbol of national rebirth,” Tinubu said at the commissioning ceremony near Jakande Estate. He emphasized the project’s potential to attract foreign investment, increase land value, and improve access to ports, factories, and agricultural hubs.
The President also addressed environmental sustainability and local empowerment. The highway incorporates eco-friendly materials and aims to qualify for carbon credits. Tinubu directed Works Minister David Umahi to enforce local content laws and ensure skills transfer to Nigerian workers.
In addition to commissioning the Lagos stretch, Tinubu virtually launched several road projects across the South-South, South-East, and South-West regions, including upgrades to the East-West Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and new bridges in Ebonyi and Enugu. He also flagged off the long-anticipated Nembe-Brass Road and the Ibadan-Akure-Benin corridor.
The ceremony drew political and business heavyweights, including governors from across the coastal states, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and industrialists Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu.
While the ₦15 trillion price tag has sparked criticism, the administration maintains the investment is justified by the project’s national significance. “Nation-building requires bold moves,” Tinubu asserted. “This road is more than concrete and steel – it’s about hope and opportunity.”
With 70% of the first phase already complete and works expanding eastward, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway signals a bold shift in Nigeria’s infrastructure ambitions – connecting people, boosting commerce, and reinforcing national unity.
