The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has moved closer to financing the Calabar–Abuja Super Highway, one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s flagship infrastructure projects, as appraisal activities commenced ahead of final approval.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed this on Monday while receiving an EBID delegation led by Maimouna Sidibe, Head of the Basic Infrastructure Division, Department of Public Sector Corporations, at his office in Abuja.
Umahi said President Tinubu’s four legacy road projects were designed as an integrated national transport network that would connect all six geopolitical zones, stimulate economic growth, improve food security and enhance regional integration.
According to him, the projects form a strategic loop that links major parts of the country and creates seamless transportation corridors for commerce and development.
He explained that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway connects with the Trans-Sahara Super Highway through Ndibe Beach in Cross River State, adding that Section One of the Trans-Sahara route covers 123.64 kilometres from Ndibe Beach to the Benue State border.
The minister noted that additional sections of the highway passing through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states had already been awarded, describing the corridor as a historic trade and agricultural route.
“It has long existed and remains a major food corridor. It is critical to food sufficiency in our country,” Umahi said.
He stated that the project would link major agricultural hubs in Cross River, Ebonyi and Benue states while significantly reducing travel time between Calabar and Abuja.
According to him, the route is expected to cut travel time between both cities to approximately four hours.
Umahi also highlighted plans to leverage existing dams along the corridor for irrigation and renewable energy generation, noting that the project would attract investments, create jobs and stimulate industrial development.
“There are many benefits to this project. Beyond tolling and corridor development for investment returns, it will generate numerous jobs, both direct and indirect,” he said.
The minister further explained that the Trans-Sahara Super Highway would connect to another legacy project through the Abuja-Akwanga Road corridor, extending to Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri.
He revealed that the recently flagged-off Gombe-Biu section spans 125 kilometres and is being constructed as a six-lane highway, while procurement processes for the Bauchi-Gombe segment are ongoing.
Umahi also outlined plans to link the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway through a new corridor beginning from Victoria Island and extending through key coastal routes before connecting to Badagry.
“When you look at all of this on a map, you see a loop. All the geopolitical zones are included.
“If you start from Sokoto, you can access all six geopolitical zones within two days," he said.
The minister disclosed that work on Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway had already exceeded 20 per cent completion and urged speedy processing of the proposed loan facility to sustain construction progress.
He commended EBID for its interest in the project, describing the bank’s intervention as timely and critical to its successful delivery.
Earlier, Sidibe reaffirmed EBID’s commitment to supporting the project, describing it as a priority infrastructure investment for the sub-region.
She disclosed that the project had already received positive consideration from the bank’s first credit committee and had advanced to the appraisal stage.
According to her, the delegation’s visit was aimed at conducting consultations with relevant government agencies and inspecting project sites to assess implementation progress, environmental compliance and social safeguards.
Sidibe said the project would be presented to the bank’s second credit committee next week before proceeding to the Board of Executive Directors in early July for final approval.
She praised the Federal Government for demonstrating commitment to the project through substantial payment of counterpart funding obligations.
“The project is of very high priority for the administration, and that is why the administration has already paid 30 per cent of the counterpart funding,” she said.
Sidibe also commended the quality of construction work already carried out, expressing confidence in the durability and long-term benefits of the infrastructure.
She noted that experts who reviewed the project considered the technology being deployed suitable for long-lasting road infrastructure, with an expected lifespan of at least 50 years.
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 Calabar–Abuja Super Highway forms part of President Tinubu’s broader infrastructure agenda aimed at improving connectivity, promoting economic growth and strengthening regional integration across Nigeria.
