Nigeria's Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that several major road corridors have been completed or are at advanced stages of construction under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Umahi made this announcement on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference on the four legacy road projects and other interventions being executed by the ministry. The administration has moved from planning to delivery, with many projects nearing completion.
The four legacy projects, which include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Trans-Saharan corridor, and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri dualisation, are strategic investments aimed at connecting the six geopolitical zones and driving economic growth. These projects are expected to have a significant impact on the country's infrastructure and economy.
Umahi provided an update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, stating that Section I, covering 47 kilometres, had been completed, while Section II, spanning about 55 kilometres, was nearing completion. The project includes major flyovers, overpasses, and underpasses. Sections around the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport have been redesigned to integrate rail, road, and industrial infrastructure.
The Minister explained that the Ondo axis was redesigned due to difficult terrain and deep pits. President Tinubu had directed that the continuation of the Coastal Highway be aligned with the existing East-West Road in the Niger Delta, with critical sections raised to address flooding. This redesign aims to ensure the project's sustainability and effectiveness.
Umahi listed several completed projects awaiting commissioning, including Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, 70km of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, and Kaduna-Pambegwu Road. Other completed projects include 43km of the Keffi-Mararaba Road, the 15km Lafia Bypass on the Makurdi-Numan Road, and the 7.9km Bodo-Bonny Road, including bridges across the Opobo Channel.
The Minister also listed other completed projects, such as the 7.5km Danbatta-Demesu dualised road, Gombe-Potiskum rehabilitation, Azare Road linking Jigawa and Bauchi, and the five-span Apapa Bridge. Additionally, the 23-span, 23km flyover at Eke Obinagu and the three-span, 75-metre dualised Tizm Bridge in Enugu have been completed. These projects demonstrate the administration's commitment to infrastructure development.
Umahi stated that the ministry is enforcing the use of concrete pavement on selected projects to improve durability, following due procurement processes. The ministry has launched “Operation Rescue” on the Benin-Asaba Expressway to restore mobility under a concrete reconstruction plan. The completed projects are expected to be commissioned soon, and a compendium of the projects will be made available on the ministry's website.
Key points
- Several major road corridors have been completed or are at advanced stages of construction under President Bola Tinubu's administration.
- The completed projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and other strategic investments aimed at connecting the six geopolitical zones and driving economic growth.
- The ministry is enforcing the use of concrete pavement on selected projects to improve durability and has launched “Operation Rescue” on the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
