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| Undersea tunnel |
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to construct a groundbreaking 3.5-kilometre undersea tunnel, linking the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway a first-of-its-kind engineering marvel on the continent.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, unveiled the ambitious plan during the commissioning of the **Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road, revealing that the tunnel will run beneath the ocean from Agbara in Badagry, cutting through Snake Island to seamlessly connect two of Nigeria’s most strategic highways.
“This is a legacy project that will stand the test of time,” Umahi declared, addressing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “The 61-kilometre link between Sokoto and Badagry will feature a 3.5-kilometre undersea tunnel the first ever built by an African president.”
Hailing President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment, Umahi credited the president’s “determination and courage” for turning what was once a dream into reality.
“Mr. President, you will be the first African leader to build a tunnel of this magnitude,” Umahi said. “This engineering wonder, situated beside the Eko Atlantic, will literally tame the ocean.”
Reflecting on the sheer ambition of the project, the minister mused whether such visions came from peaceful sleep or sleepless nights hinting at the relentless drive behind Nigeria’s infrastructure revolution.
Beyond its engineering prestige, the tunnel is a strategic economic masterstroke. It promises to: Decongest Lagos ports by creating alternative trade routes. Boost regional trade by linking inland markets to coastal export hubs. Enhance logistics efficiency across West Africa.
The project includes a 2-kilometre tunnel segment integrated into a 61-kilometre highway stretch, ultimately feeding into the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway a corridor set to transform Nigeria’s transport network.
Umahi emphasized that President Tinubu was turning decades of unfulfilled promises into concrete progress.
“This isn’t just about roads and tunnels,” he stated. “It’s about Nigeria’s future a statement that we are ready to lead Africa into a new era of innovation and connectivity.”
With construction plans underway, Nigeria is poised to make history one groundbreaking project at a time.