President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, May 31, 2025, spearheaded a significant milestone in Nigeria's infrastructure development by commissioning Phase 1, Section 1 of the landmark Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The event in Lagos, which also marked two years of his administration, included the virtual inauguration of several other key road projects across the nation's six geopolitical zones and the flagging off of new ones, underscoring a robust commitment to enhancing national connectivity and economic growth.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 750-kilometre project traversing Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, is designed as a six-lane carriageway within a 60-meter corridor. President Tinubu hailed it as a "signature project" geared to unlock holistic road infrastructure along Nigeria's coastline. Recalling initial skepticism, he stated, “Many critics dismissed it as impossible, citing the unpredictable and destructive nature of the Atlantic Ocean along the Lekki-Epe-Victoria Island axis. We were told it couldn’t be done. Some said the Atlantic would devour us. But we stood firm. We rejected fear, and we embraced science, engineering, and courage.” He elaborated that through strategic coastal defences and reinforced concrete pavement technology, his administration averted a potential ecological disaster, turning "a threat into a treasure."

In his address, President Tinubu called on Nigerians to treat public infrastructure as a shared national asset, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in its preservation and maintenance. He issued a stern warning to property developers and landowners against unauthorized construction on federal infrastructure corridors. “The era of indiscriminate development and encroachment on public infrastructure is over,” President Tinubu declared, stressing that his government would not compensate for buildings or developments violating federal right-of-way regulations. “If you build illegally, you bear the consequences,” he asserted, urging developers, traditional leaders, and local authorities to respect urban development laws to protect national infrastructure, lives, and economic growth. He further implored communities along the coastal highway corridor to guard the infrastructure against vandalism and illegal modifications, stating, “These projects belong to all of us. They are not political trophies; they are lifelines for future generations.”

President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration's commitment to promoting local content, technology transfer, and the empowerment of Nigerians through such large-scale projects. He appealed for patience from the populace, acknowledging their high expectations and the difficult times. “I know at this stage, your expectation is still very high and our people are still going through difficult times. I take this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians that the hope is here and it is realisable,” he said. He pointed to positive economic indicators, noting that “inflation is coming down, the corruption in the exchange rate is eliminated, the corruption in fuel subsidy is limited to the barest minimum.” He also highlighted efforts to reduce manufacturing costs and encourage local production.

The event also featured remarks from other prominent leaders. Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended President Tinubu’s vision and execution, describing him as a leader blessed with “sight and vision.” Akpabio advised serving governors, especially those nearing the end of their terms, to be “intentional and patriotic” in choosing capable and prepared successors, rather than individuals selected for superficial loyalty. Minister of Works, David Umahi, praised President Tinubu’s national development efforts and his insistence on involving Nigerian youth in learning new technologies. Umahi highlighted the durability of the reinforced concrete pavement used for the highway, claiming it could last between 50 and 100 years. He also made a notable request for President Tinubu to direct Dangote and BUA cement companies to remit two percent of their sales to the Ministry of Works as a reward for their increased sales, presumably due to government projects. Furthermore, Umahi disclosed that N18 billion had been paid as compensation for section one of the coastal highway project.

Beyond the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, President Tinubu virtually inaugurated an extensive portfolio of road projects. In the South-South, these included the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road (Section II) and the dualisation of the East-West Road Section II. The South-East saw the inauguration of the rehabilitated Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Section III and a new bridge at Akpoha, Ebonyi State. Projects in the South-West included the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan Dual Carriageway Section II and repairs on the Eko Bridge. In the North-Central, the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State and the Ilobu-Enrile road in Kwara/Osun States were commissioned. The North-East benefited from the inauguration of the Jimeta Bridge in Yola, Adamawa State, while the North-West saw the commissioning of reconstructed roads in Kano and Jigawa states.

Additionally, President Tinubu flagged off several new projects, including the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Akure-Benin Road, the Nembe-Brass Road, a section of the Enugu-Onitsha Carriageway, the rehabilitation of the Zaria-Hunkuyi-Kufur-Gidan Mutum Daya Road, the dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road (Section I), the Kano Northern Bypass Road, and the Maiduguri Bypass Road. These initiatives collectively signal a determined push to transform Nigeria's infrastructure landscape. The commissioning ceremony was attended by notable figures including Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, industry captains Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu, signifying broad support for these national endeavors.