By Peter Dansu Nigeria is on the cusp of a historic engineering breakthrough with the proposed construction of a 3.5-kilometre tunnel that...
By Peter Dansu
Nigeria is on the cusp of a historic engineering breakthrough with the proposed construction of a 3.5-kilometre tunnel that will link the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway — a project the Minister of Works, David Umahi, says will be the first of its kind on the African continent.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road on Thursday, Umahi unveiled plans for the tunnel, which will run through Snake Island from Agbara in Badagry. The ambitious project is designed to connect two of Nigeria’s most transformative highway corridors: the Sokoto–Badagry route running north to south, and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway stretching west to east.
"This is a legacy project that will stand the test of time," Umahi said, addressing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. "The link-up between Sokoto and Badagry — 61 kilometres in total — will include a 3.5-kilometre tunnel, the first ever by an African president."
The Minister lauded Tinubu's leadership, calling him a man of bold vision and courage. “Mr. President, you will be the first African leader to build a tunnel. This is possible only because of your determination and courage. This tunnel, beside the Eko Atlantic, will literally tame the ocean,” Umahi added.
He reflected on the scale of the president’s infrastructure agenda, wondering aloud whether such dreams were born from peaceful sleep — or sleepless nights driven by ambition.
The tunnel is more than a bold architectural feat; it's part of a broader strategy to reshape Nigeria’s transport and logistics network. According to Umahi, the infrastructure will open new trade corridors, reduce congestion at Lagos ports, and create seamless links between inland commercial centres and coastal export hubs.
The engineering blueprint includes a 2-kilometre section of tunnel that feeds into a larger 61-kilometre stretch crossing Snake Island — ultimately integrating into the expansive Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Minister Umahi hailed the project as a symbol of visionary leadership. “President Tinubu is turning decades of unfulfilled plans into action. This tunnel is not just infrastructure — it’s a statement of intent for Nigeria’s future.”
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