Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has announced that private investors are already showing strong interest in financing, recovering costs, and operating toll systems on sections of President Bola Tinubu’s major highway projects, following the signing of agreements for eight large-scale road developments across Nigeria.
The agreements, finalized over two days at the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja, cover four key legacy highways alongside four additional strategic road projects spread across different states of the federation.
The flagship projects include Section II of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Abuja Superhighway passing through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa; Section IV of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway in Oyo State; Section V of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom; and Section II of the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri route extending from Gombe to Biu.
Additional approved works include the reconstruction of the Mando–Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State, dualisation of the Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road across Oyo and Ogun, and construction of the Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda and Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan roads in Osun and Oyo States.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Umahi described the projects as part of what he called a major infrastructure transformation under the Tinubu administration, noting that earlier sections of the Calabar–Abuja corridor had already been awarded and partially completed.
He explained that the new section alone spans about 173 kilometres and is expected to significantly cut travel time between the South-East and Abuja while boosting trade and economic activity along the route.
Umahi also highlighted progress on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, stating that parts of the project are already under construction across multiple states, with some sections expected to become accessible to motorists in the coming months.
According to him, the highway is being built with reinforced concrete technology designed for long-term durability, with an estimated lifespan of up to a century.
He further disclosed that investors have begun expressing interest in taking over completed sections for toll operations in order to recover construction costs and generate returns.
Funding for the projects will be structured through a mix of government contributions and loans, with plans for tolling and land value development expected to support repayment over time.
Contractors involved in the projects assured the government of timely delivery and adherence to quality standards, with completion timelines projected within a few years.
