Odita Sunday 
Tinubu’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Gains Global Spotlight as Financier Bags International Award-Umahi
By Odita Sunday
The Federal Government’s flagship Lagos-Calabar Coastal SuperHighway project has earned growing international recognition, with one of its key financiers receiving a global honour in what the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, described as a strong endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure vision.
Speaking during an inspection of Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal SuperHighway in Epe, Lagos State, on Friday, June 19, 2026, Umahi said the project has continued to attract admiration from global financial institutions, foreign governments and infrastructure stakeholders due to the quality of execution and its strategic economic value.
The Minister disclosed that Deutsche Bank, which led funding for 70 per cent of Sections One and Two of the project, considered the highway undervalued relative to the standard of work being delivered.
“Deutsche Bank, which was the lead bank for the funding of 70% of Sections One and Two, said that Lagos-Calabar Coastal SuperHighway Project was undervalued. But the quality of the work is out of this world,” Umahi stated.
According to him, the project is increasingly becoming a reference point for international infrastructure development, drawing attention from foreign officials and neighbouring countries interested in studying its engineering standards.
“People are coming. I’m told that the California Transport Minister is on this road today to look at it. Our neighboring countries are coming to look at the quality of the road, and they are trying to snatch HITECH from us. But we will fight. We will not agree,” he said.
Umahi further revealed that First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), one of the institutions supporting the project’s financing, was honoured at the ongoing IsDB Group Annual Meetings 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in recognition of its participation in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal SuperHighway.
“Just this week, the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) that participated in the funding was given an award at the ongoing IsDBGroup Annual Meetings 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, for participating in this wonderful, innovative project of President Bola Tinubu. Go and Google it and check it out. They participated with 656 million US dollars, and they were given an award.
“This is something to rejoice about,” Umahi said.
The Minister said the recognition reinforces international investor confidence in the project and reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to delivering infrastructure capable of accelerating economic growth and national development.
Addressing public criticism surrounding the project, Umahi acknowledged the right of citizens to express dissenting views but urged that such criticism should be informed and constructive.
“When people criticize the project, they have to know that it’s their right to criticize. But criticize constructively and be sure of what you are saying. Don’t darken counsel without knowledge,” he cautioned.
Umahi also reiterated his commitment to transparency and effective supervision of federal infrastructure projects, stating that his stewardship is anchored on faith, service to Nigerians and loyalty to the administration’s development agenda.
“I put God first in all that I do. I put the people and I put the President first, and that is the line of commitment to this job. My Bible tells me that by fear of God, men depart from evil.
“So I’m doing something in terms of supervision that tomorrow I will answer for, and also in heaven, I will answer to God Almighty.”
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