Governor Dapo Abiodun has described the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as a game-changing investment with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy, mobility, and industrial growth, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the vision behind the project.

Speaking from the perspective of Ogun State’s development experience, the governor explained that the proposed coastal corridor fundamentally alters long-standing constraints that once limited port and industrial expansion along the coastline. He noted that earlier plans to develop a seaport in Ogun State were hampered by poor evacuation routes, with the nearest major expressways located several kilometres inland. The new coastal highway, he said, brings critical transport infrastructure within just a few kilometres of the state’s coastline, dramatically improving access and feasibility.

Abiodun stressed that the road’s regional connectivity would significantly reduce travel times across the South-West and South-South. With the coastal highway in place, movement between Lagos and neighbouring states such as Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Rivers would become faster and more efficient, unlocking opportunities for trade, tourism, recreation, and industrial clustering along the corridor. According to him, the reduction in travel time alone would translate into higher productivity and lower logistics costs for businesses.

He also pointed to the complementary impact of the proposed Sokoto–Badagry Highway, describing it as another strategic artery that will transform rural and border communities. Communities that previously required several hours of travel to reach Lagos, he said, would be brought within under an hour, opening them up to investment, markets, and cross-border trade.

The governor concluded that these large-scale highway projects, combined with state-level township roads and farm-to-market links, represent powerful enablers of economic activity. By strengthening multimodal infrastructure across roads, ports, and other transport networks, he said, the country is laying a solid foundation for sustained investment, regional integration, and inclusive growth.