By Francis Nwaze
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s four legacy road projects as a transformative national infrastructure network that will connect all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, unlock economic opportunities, boost food security, and accelerate regional integration.
Umahi stated this on Monday, June 8, 2026, while receiving a delegation from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), led by Maimouna Sidibe, Head of the Basic Infrastructure Division, Department of Public Sector Corporations, at his office in Abuja.
The EBID team is currently undertaking appraisal activities ahead of the approval of financing for Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway, one of President Tinubu’s landmark legacy projects.
Welcoming the delegation, the Minister explained that the President’s four legacy road projects were deliberately designed to function as an interconnected national transport network.
“Let me say that the entire four Legacy Projects of Mr. President are interconnected in a loop,” Umahi said.
He explained that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway seamlessly links with the Trans-Sahara Super Highway through Ndibe Beach in Cross River State.
According to him, Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway spans 123.64 kilometres and runs from Ndibe Beach to the Benue border, while additional sections through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States have already been awarded.
The Minister noted that the historic route has existed since colonial times, serving as a major corridor for trade and agricultural activities.
“It has long existed and remains a major food corridor. It is critical to food sufficiency in our country,” he stated.
Highlighting the economic significance of the project, Umahi said the highway would connect major agricultural belts across the country, including Ebonyi, Benue and Cross River States, while significantly reducing travel time between Calabar and Abuja.
“This route will shorten travel time from Calabar to Abuja to about four hours. It is therefore a very important corridor,” he said.
Beyond transportation, the Minister revealed plans to harness existing dams along the corridor for irrigation and renewable energy generation, creating new opportunities for industrialization, investment and job creation.
“There are many benefits to this project. Beyond tolling and corridor development for investment returns, it will generate numerous jobs, both direct and indirect. There will be factories along the corridor, power projects, and significant traffic volumes on the road,” he added.
Umahi further explained how the Trans-Sahara Super Highway connects to the fourth Legacy Project through the Abuja-Akwanga Road corridor, extending through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri.
He noted that the recently flagged-off Gombe-Biu section covers 125 kilometres and is being constructed as a six-lane highway, while procurement activities are ongoing for the Bauchi-Gombe section.
He also outlined plans to link the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway through a new route beginning at Victoria Island, traversing a 3.5-kilometre tunnel, Ogogoro Island and Snake Island before connecting to Badagry.
“When you look at all of this on a map, you see a loop. All the geopolitical zones are included,” Umahi said.
“If you start from Sokoto, you can access all six geopolitical zones within two days. It is a remarkable development.”
Commending the contractor handling Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway, Infioues, the Minister disclosed that work has already exceeded 20 percent completion.
“My concern is that we need to fast-track the loan component because once they reach 30 percent completion, payments will become necessary,” he said.
He described the visit of the EBID delegation as timely and praised the bank for its commitment to supporting the strategic project.
“That is why your visit is very timely, and we commend you highly. I also appreciate the meeting we had earlier. It was very fruitful, and I believe we are aligned in terms of enthusiasm and speed of execution.”
Earlier, leader of the EBID mission, Maimouna Sidibe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting the project, describing it as a priority infrastructure investment.
“We are very honored to contribute to the financing of this very important project, which have been submitted last week to our first credit committee.”
Sidibe disclosed that the project had already received positive consideration from the bank’s first credit committee and had advanced to the appraisal stage.
“The members find this project very important and encourage the department to come to finalize the instruction of the projects.”
She explained that the delegation’s visit included consultations with key government agencies as well as site inspections to assess project implementation, environmental compliance and social safeguards.
According to her, the project is expected to proceed to the bank’s second credit committee next week before being presented to the Board of Executive Directors in early July for final approval.
Sidibe commended the Federal Government’s commitment to the project, noting that counterpart funding obligations had already been substantially fulfilled.
“I have to say that the project is of a very top priority for the administration, and that’s why the administration have paid 30 percent of the counterpart money.”
She also praised the quality of work already delivered on the project and expressed confidence in the durability of the road infrastructure.
“The members of the credit committees said that this technology is very, very good and already experienced on Lagos-Calabar, and the road duration will be at least for 50 years.”
The delegation included Mathieu Anno, Head of the Environment and Sustainability Unit at EBID; Onimisi Aliyu, Financial Analyst at EBID; Blaghe Dougah, Head of ESG Department at Sky Capital Europe; and Sheka Humphrey of Influence International, the project contractor.
