The Federal Government has officially flagged off the Cross River segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway — a landmark infrastructure project aimed at linking the South-South and South-East regions with enhanced connectivity and economic potential.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State at the Monday ceremony in Calabar, described the highway as a transformative initiative poised to serve as an economic enabler, job creation driver, and a platform for cultural integration across Nigeria’s coastal belt.
“I am pleased and privileged to witness this historic flag-off of the Calabar section of the ambitious Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, initiated under the leadership of our indefatigable President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Governor Otu said.
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Highlighting the strategic importance of the project, Otu noted that the highway reaffirms Cross River State’s role as a key hub for agriculture and multimodal transport—spanning land, air, and sea.
“For Cross Riverians, this is not just an enduring road infrastructure; it is a major catalyst for economic expansion,” he added. “With the recent groundbreaking of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in the state, the highway will offer seamless evacuation routes for agricultural produce, boosting access to markets both locally and internationally.”
Governor Otu called on the people of Cross River to seize the economic opportunities the highway presents, particularly in the nano, small, and medium enterprise space, pledging that the state would ensure an enabling environment for entrepreneurship to flourish.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to completing the project within a few years, emphasising its alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This road is more than a transportation route; it is a transformative investment for economic growth and sustainable development,” Umahi said. “It will function as a strategic evacuation corridor, reduce congestion, and bolster the country’s infrastructure network.”
Responding to criticism over the cost and execution of the project, Umahi said, “I welcome open debate from anyone questioning the project’s cost-effectiveness or value. I take full responsibility for the costing, alignment, and selection of contractors. Leave the President out of it — we will deliver this road in record time.”
Also speaking at the event, the Federal Controller of Works in Cross River State, Olayinka Onafuye, commended President Tinubu for initiating the highway and promised strict supervision to ensure adherence to standards and specifications throughout the project’s implementation.
