TINUBU’S RENEWED HOPE ROAD REVOLUTION: Umahi Rallies Support for 2027 Re-election, Urges Critics to Focus on Facts

…Says legacy highway projects are transforming Nigeria, dismisses allegations over Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as misleading

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, citing what he described as unprecedented investments in road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda, while challenging critics to base their assessments on facts rather than speculation.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday during a comprehensive briefing on the Federal Government’s ongoing road projects, Umahi said the Tinubu administration had embarked on a historic infrastructure revolution that is redefining connectivity, stimulating economic growth and laying the foundation for long-term national development.

He maintained that while criticism remains essential in a democracy, it must be constructive and fact-based.

“These legacy projects are not mere expenditures. They are long-term investments in Nigeria’s economic future. History will judge these projects by their impact, not by the noise surrounding them,” the minister said.

Umahi disclosed that the Federal Government had already commenced active construction on more than 360 kilometres of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing the project as one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in Nigeria’s history.

He announced that the highway has officially been named the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway, explaining that the project was conceived by President Tinubu over two decades ago during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.

According to him, Section One of the project, stretching from Victoria Island to the Lekki axis, has become a major engineering landmark, while Section Two, extending to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has reached about 60 per cent completion and is expected to be substantially completed before the end of November.

The minister added that construction is progressing simultaneously from the Cross River axis, with Sections Three, Four and Five recording significant milestones despite funding challenges.

He also highlighted progress on the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, noting that the project, first conceived during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari over five decades ago, is finally becoming a reality under President Tinubu.

Umahi dismissed claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is responsible for flooding in parts of Lagos, insisting that detailed engineering investigations proved otherwise.

“I wish to categorically state that this is not true. Rather than causing flooding, the Coastal Highway is helping to mitigate the devastating impact of ocean surge by serving as a protective barrier against seawater encroachment,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as an engineer in Lagos, Umahi recalled the severe flooding that once plagued Victoria Island before the creation of Eko Atlantic City under Tinubu’s leadership as governor.

He said the same engineering vision that transformed Lagos’ coastline now underpins the coastal highway project.

The minister also defended the Federal Government’s decision to award the project through a special procurement process rather than open competitive bidding.

According to him, the Public Procurement Act permits special procurement for highly specialised projects requiring unique technical expertise.

“Who else has successfully reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean on the scale achieved at Eko Atlantic? Who else possesses that specialised technology to construct a highway capable of resisting the destructive force of the Atlantic? The answer is Hitech Construction Company,” Umahi explained.

He stressed that both the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the procurement process, while international financial institutions that evaluated the project found it commercially viable and technically credible.

Umahi disclosed that financing offers for Sections One and Two were oversubscribed by more than 100 million US dollars, which he said demonstrates global confidence in the project.

Beyond the coastal highway, the minister listed several strategic road projects receiving accelerated attention across the country, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Highway, the Makurdi-9th Mile Road, emergency rehabilitation of the Abuja-Lokoja Road, as well as key highway reconstruction projects in Ekiti and Osun states.

He revealed that the Ministry has also begun recruiting young Nigerian engineers from across the federation to participate in ongoing construction projects as part of President Tinubu’s skills acquisition and technology transfer agenda.

According to Umahi, the initiative is designed to equip Nigerian engineers with world-class expertise in reinforced concrete pavement technology and position indigenous firms to undertake similar projects in the future.

The minister further said climate resilience has become a major consideration in the design of all federal highways, with reinforced concrete pavements, improved drainage systems and flood mitigation measures now incorporated into major projects nationwide.

He explained that roads damaged by flooding in parts of Bauchi and Jigawa states have already been reconstructed above flood levels using reinforced concrete, while the ministry is developing integrated designs that combine transportation infrastructure with irrigation, renewable energy and flood control systems.

Umahi said President Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda goes beyond road construction to include broader economic transformation through improved connectivity, enhanced investment opportunities and environmental sustainability.

He thanked Nigerians for their continued patience and support, assuring that the administration remains committed to delivering durable infrastructure that will outlive the current government.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is investing boldly in infrastructure that will outlive his administration and transform Nigeria’s economy for generations to come. We remain focused on delivering quality projects that meet international standards,” the minister said.