President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commenced work on the 65-kilometer Akwa Ibom section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, marking a crucial step in Nigeria’s long-anticipated coastal infrastructure plan. The flag-off ceremony took place Tuesday in the Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, with Governor Umo Eno standing in for the president.
The project, regarded as one of the country’s most transformative highway developments, is expected to connect several coastal states, open up trade routes, and create opportunities for communities long left behind by development. Tinubu, through a message delivered by Governor Eno, described the project as a core part of his Renewed Hope Agenda. He stressed that this highway is not just about road construction but about unlocking economic growth, regional connectivity, and national unity.
He pointed out that work is currently concentrated on sections 3A and 3B, which run between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. According to him, these parts of the project hold enormous promise in terms of boosting interstate commerce and improving the lives of people in the region.
Governor Eno expressed appreciation for the president’s commitment to including Akwa Ibom in such a major national project. He called it a privilege, not a right, for the road to pass through the state and pledged the full backing of the state government to ensure timely completion. He added that this road could shift the state’s economic fortunes and bring more of its communities into the national fold.
The governor also made it clear that he stands fully behind Tinubu’s administration, urging Nigerians to support the president’s eight-year plan. He emphasized the importance of continuity, noting that the success of such a massive project depends on sustained leadership. He said the fear of the highway becoming another abandoned project, like the East-West Road, should motivate everyone to ensure its success.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, who was also present, described the project as historic and said it reflects the president’s focus on fairness, unity, and infrastructure-led development. Umahi reminded the audience that Tinubu first envisioned this highway 27 years ago when he served as Governor of Lagos. He said the project would not only benefit airport access and the Qua refinery but also provide flyovers and critical roads that would serve generations.
Umahi announced that following recent complaints from Governors Eno and Bassey Otu of Cross River, the president had instructed construction firm HITECH to move immediately to the Calabar-Itu Road, which has been in a terrible state for years. He assured the public that the road would be motorable within two months, offering much-needed relief to commuters and businesses in the region.
As construction begins on the Akwa Ibom segment, expectations are high that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will become a lasting legacy of regional development and national integration. The project is seen as a powerful symbol of hope for better roads, stronger economies, and a more united Nigeria.
