The Federal Government on Friday said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway is attracting increasing international recognition after one of the banks financing the project received a global award for its contribution to the landmark road development.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, made the remarks during an inspection of Section Two of the highway in Epe, Lagos State, where he said the project has continued to attract international attention for its engineering quality and strategic importance.
Umahi revealed that First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), which contributed 656 million dollars towards the project, was honoured at the ongoing IsDB Group Annual Meetings 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, for participating in what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s innovative infrastructure initiative.
According to the minister, the award reflects growing international confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure drive and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway in particular.
He further disclosed that Deutsche Bank, which led the funding of 70 per cent of Sections One and Two of the project, described the highway as undervalued relative to the quality of construction being delivered.
“The quality of the work is out of this world,” Umahi quoted the bank as saying.
The minister said the coastal highway has become a destination for international stakeholders seeking to understudy the engineering standards deployed on the project.
He added that the California Transport Minister was expected to inspect the road, while officials from neighbouring African countries had also expressed interest in the project and were exploring the possibility of engaging its contractor, HITECH, for similar infrastructure developments.
Umahi said the growing international attention validates the Federal Government’s investment in the project and reinforces confidence among global investors in Nigeria’s infrastructure development agenda.
While acknowledging the right of Nigerians to criticise government projects, he urged critics to ensure their comments are based on facts and a proper understanding of the highway.
The minister also reaffirmed his commitment to accountability and rigorous supervision of federal infrastructure projects, saying his stewardship is guided by his responsibility to Nigerians, his faith in God and his commitment to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s development agenda.
