The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the four legacy road projects of Bola Ahmed Tinubu are designed to form an integrated transport network connecting all six geopolitical zones and unlocking economic growth….
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says the four legacy road projects of Bola Ahmed Tinubu are designed to form an integrated transport network connecting all six geopolitical zones and unlocking economic growth.
Umahi stated this in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, led by Maimouna Sidibe, which is currently appraising funding for Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway.
The minister explained that the projects—including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Sahara Super Highway—are structured as a looped national corridor linking key economic zones across the country.
He said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway connects to the Trans-Sahara route at Ndibe Beach in Cross River State, with Section One of the latter spanning 123.64 kilometres from the coastal axis to the Benue border.
According to Umahi, the corridor is historically significant and remains a major agricultural route linking states such as Ebonyi, Benue and Cross River, making it critical to food security.
He added that the highway would significantly reduce travel time between Calabar and Abuja to about four hours, while also opening up opportunities for industrialisation, power generation and large-scale investment along the route.
Beyond transportation, Umahi disclosed plans to utilise dams along the corridor for irrigation and renewable energy, noting that the projects would generate both direct and indirect employment.
He further outlined how the Trans-Sahara route connects with another legacy project through the Abuja-Akwanga corridor, extending to Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri, while also linking to the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway through a coastal route beginning at Victoria Island in Lagos.
“When viewed on a map, the projects form a loop that captures all geopolitical zones,” Umahi said, adding that the network would enable travel across the country within two days.
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The minister revealed that construction on Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway has exceeded 20 per cent completion, stressing the need to fast-track external financing as work progresses.
Earlier, Sidibe reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the project, describing it as a priority investment. She disclosed that the proposal has received positive consideration from the bank’s first credit committee and is advancing towards final approval by its Board of Executive Directors.
She added that the delegation’s visit included consultations with relevant agencies and site inspections to assess environmental and social compliance, noting that the project could be presented for final approval in early July.
Sidibe also commended the Federal Government’s commitment, revealing that about 30 per cent of counterpart funding has already been provided.
Officials said the project is expected to enhance regional integration, boost trade and agriculture, and strengthen Nigeria’s infrastructure base as part of broader economic reforms.
