President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved the inclusion of Edo State in the ambitious Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, granting a 100-kilometer stretch of the project to pass through the state.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during the Edo Independence Day celebration at the State Villa in Benin City. Umahi revealed that Edo was not originally listed among the states to benefit from the multibillion-naira highway, first conceived nearly five decades ago. However, Tinubu ordered the expansion to ensure Edo enjoys direct access to one of Nigeria’s most transformative road projects.
“The president emphasized that the highway must connect Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River,” Umahi said. “With this approval, Edo will now host two lanes along a 100-kilometer stretch of the coastal highway.”
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The Works Minister commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for his role in addressing the crisis on the Benin-Sapele-Warri road, which he described as one of the most dangerous highways in the region. He also praised contractors handling the project, urging the Federal Controller of Works in Edo to provide him with regular updates on progress.
Governor Okpebholo, in his remarks, expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for extending the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway into Edo and for the renewed federal attention to road infrastructure in the state. According to him, the move underscores Tinubu’s commitment to Edo people and serves as a strong message of inclusion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He noted that the improvement of critical roads like the Benin-Sapele-Warri highway is vital for economic growth and road safety. “If we all play our part, Nigerians will have fewer reasons to criticize the president. To earn people’s support, we must deliver results, whether from the federal or state government,” Okpebholo said.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s history, designed to stretch over 700 kilometers and link major cities and ports along the southern corridor. With Edo State now added to the route, expectations are rising that the project will boost trade, tourism, and investment opportunities in the South-South region.
