President Bola Tinubu says the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may contribute 2% to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by means of expanded commerce, tourism and industrial exercise, whereas producing an estimated 250,000 direct and oblique jobs.
He additionally stated the undertaking is predicted to scale back logistics prices alongside the hall by 15% to twenty%.
Tinubu disclosed this in an announcement titled From Reforms to Delivery: Our Infrastructure Investment and Growth Strategy, issued on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The President, whereas defending his latest borrowing plans, which have drawn criticism from the opposition and a few Nigerians, recognized the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as one of many main initiatives anticipated to profit from the proposed facility.
Lagos-Calabar Highway targets 250,000 jobs
According to the assertion, the undertaking is estimated to generate about 100,000 direct jobs in building and engineering, alongside greater than 150,000 oblique jobs throughout associated sectors.
The President stated the freeway would additionally scale back the price of transferring items and companies alongside its route, whereas supporting financial actions throughout the hall.
- The assertion partly reads: “The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is predicted to chop logistics prices alongside its hall by 15 to twenty per cent. It may add as much as two per cent to Nigeria’s GDP by means of expanded commerce, tourism, and industrial exercise.
- “The project is also projected to generate about 100,000 direct jobs in construction and engineering, alongside more than 150,000 indirect jobs in logistics, materials and related services.”
Beyond the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Tinubu recognized the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, electrical energy grid upgrades and the modernisation of key industrial ports in Lagos as main initiatives anticipated to strengthen Nigeria’s productive capability.
- He stated, “We are not simply building highways. We are opening economic corridors, connecting markets, unlocking industries and reshaping Nigeria’s economic geography.”
The President’s projections place the coastal freeway as a part of the administration’s wider infrastructure funding plans.
Tinubu hyperlinks infrastructure to $1 trillion economic system
Tinubu argued that Nigeria would want improved infrastructure to realize its ambition of turning into a $1 trillion economic system by 2030.
He stated sustained funding in infrastructure could be essential to help larger productiveness, industrialisation and commerce.
- “We cannot build a USD 1 trillion economy with infrastructure designed for an economy a fraction of that size,” the President stated.
He additionally acknowledged that bettering financial indicators and rising worldwide investor confidence had been creating alternatives for Nigeria to draw long-term funding and develop crucial infrastructure.
- According to Tinubu, the financial reforms launched by his administration in May 2023 had helped restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen public funds and enhance the nation’s standing in worldwide monetary markets.
He maintained {that a} $1 trillion economic system wouldn’t emerge by means of declarations alone however would require sustained funding, larger productiveness, industrialisation and commerce.
What it’s best to know
A number of days earlier than the assertion, President Tinubu requested the Senate to approve a supplementary exterior borrowing plan of $20.52 billion and €1.05 billion for 2026–2027 to finance infrastructure and improvement initiatives throughout Nigeria.
- He stated the proposed funds would help key sectors, together with energy, transportation, healthcare, agriculture, schooling, water provide, safety and employment era, whereas strengthening public monetary administration reforms.
- The President defined that the borrowing was supposed to deal with Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and bridge funding gaps for initiatives thought of necessary to the nation’s socioeconomic improvement.
- He added that the proposed initiatives and programmes had been chosen following technical and financial evaluations, with consideration given to their anticipated contributions to nationwide improvement.
According to Tinubu, many of the initiatives could be applied throughout Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
