The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially extended the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project to include a 100-kilometre stretch passing through Edo State. The announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during the Edo State Independence Gala Night held in Benin City on October 1, 2025.
The extension reflects President Bola Tinubu’s directive to ensure that the highway runs through Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states. Originally conceived 47 years ago by Tinubu, the project did not initially include Edo State in its alignment.
Senator Umahi praised the quality of work done so far by the contractor CBC and commended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for agreeing to intervene in critical repairs on the Benin–Sapele–Warri highway, which had been labelled a dangerous stretch for motorists.
Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the inclusion of Edo in the coastal highway, describing it as an expression of the President’s extraordinary love for Edo people. He called for collective efforts from both the federal and state governments to rehabilitate roads and improve infrastructure.
With the extension, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project strengthens connectivity across southern Nigeria, boosting trade, tourism, and regional integration.