EBID Moves to Fund Calabar–Abuja Super Highway as Umahi Unveils Tinubu’s Grand Plan to Connect Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Federal Government has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s four flagship legacy highway projects are being developed as an integrated national transport network designed to connect all six geopolitical zones, boost food security, drive economic growth, and transform regional connectivity across Nigeria.

The disclosure came as the Economic Community of West African States Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) advanced plans to approve financing for the first section of the proposed Trans-Sahara Super Highway, a key component of the administration’s ambitious infrastructure agenda.

The development was contained in a statement issued by the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and signed by Francis Nwaze, FIPMD, Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media).

Speaking on Monday while receiving an EBID delegation led by Mrs. Maimouna Sidibe, Head of the Basic Infrastructure Division, Department of Public Sector Corporations, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said the legacy projects were deliberately designed as a single interconnected network capable of unlocking unprecedented economic opportunities across the country.

“Let me say that the entire four Legacy Projects of Mr. President are interconnected in a loop,” Umahi stated.

According to him, the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway seamlessly connects to the Trans-Sahara Super Highway through Ndibe Beach in Cross River State, creating a strategic transport corridor linking southern and northern Nigeria.

The Minister explained that Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway stretches 123.64 kilometres from Ndibe Beach to the Benue State border, while additional sections traversing Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states have already been awarded.

Describing the route as one of Nigeria’s most important agricultural corridors, Umahi said the project would strengthen food distribution networks and improve access to major farming hubs.

“It has long existed and remains a major food corridor. It is critical to food sufficiency in our country,” he said.

He added that the highway would connect major agricultural producing states such as Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi while drastically 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,” the Minister noted.

Economic Transformation Beyond Roads

Umahi said the infrastructure project extends beyond transportation, revealing plans to leverage dams and other resources along the corridor for irrigation, renewable energy generation, industrial development 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 said.

The Minister further explained that the Trans-Sahara Super Highway links with another legacy project through the Abuja-Akwanga corridor, extending through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri.

He disclosed that the recently flagged-off Gombe-Biu section covers 125 kilometres and is being constructed as a six-lane highway, while procurement processes for the Bauchi-Gombe segment are already underway.

Umahi also outlined plans to connect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway through a new route beginning from Victoria Island and traversing a 3.5-kilometre tunnel, Ogogoro Island and Snake Island before linking to Badagry.

“When you look at all of this on a map, you see a loop. All the geopolitical zones are included,” he said.

“If you start from Sokoto, you can access all six geopolitical zones within two days. It is a remarkable development.”

EBID Advances Loan Approval Process

The Works Minister disclosed that construction on Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway has already surpassed 20 per cent completion, emphasizing the need to fast-track financing arrangements.

“My concern is that we need to fast-track the loan component because once they reach 30 per cent completion, payments will become necessary,” he stated.

He commended EBID for its support and described the bank’s appraisal visit as timely and strategic.

Responding, the leader of the EBID mission, Mrs. Maimouna Sidibe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to financing the project, describing it as a priority infrastructure investment with significant regional economic benefits.

“We are very honored to contribute to the financing of this very important project, which has been submitted last week to our first credit committee,” she said.

Sidibe disclosed that the project had already received favourable consideration from the bank’s first credit committee and had progressed to the appraisal stage.

“The members find this project very important and encourage the department to come to finalize the instruction of the project,” she added.

According to her, the delegation’s mission includes consultations with relevant government agencies as well as field inspections to assess implementation progress, environmental compliance and social safeguards.

She revealed that 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.

Confidence in Project Sustainability

The EBID official praised the Federal Government’s commitment to the project, noting that the administration had already fulfilled a substantial portion of its counterpart funding obligations.

“The project is of a very top priority for the administration, and that’s why the administration has paid 30 per cent of the counterpart money,” she said.

Sidibe also expressed confidence in the quality and durability of the road infrastructure, citing positive assessments from the bank’s technical reviewers.

“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,” she stated.

The EBID delegation included Mathieu Anno, Head of the Environment and Sustainability Unit; Onimisi Aliyu, Financial Analyst; Blaghe Dougah, Head of ESG Department at Sky Capital Europe; and Sheka Humphrey of Influence International, the project contractor.

The proposed financing is expected to accelerate implementation of one of the Tinubu administration’s signature infrastructure projects, which government officials say will significantly enhance national integration, trade, investment and economic development across Nigeria.