By our reporter 8.10.2026
President Bola Tinubu’s government’s plan to commission a 47.47-kilometre stretch of the Lagos-Calabar highway has been lampooned by the Big Tent Coalition led by Prof Pat Utomi.
Minister of works David Umahi had announced that ‘section one’ of the 750km road which will cost Nigerian taxpayers N15 trillion (about $11 billion) is ready for commissioning. The ‘section one’ ready for “commissioning” runs from Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island to Eleko village in Lekki, Lagos State.
The ‘section two’ 55.6 km stretching from the Eleko corridor to the Ogun State is yet to be completed.
According to the Big Tent Coalition the All-Progressives Congress led government’s plan to celebrate a fraction of the road in face of mass starvation and insecurity leaves much to be desired. In May 2025 the government also celebrated 30km of the road.
“These wasteful jamborees are an insult to a nation that continues to lag badly on the real measures of performance—human development,” said Big Tent Coalition director of media and communications Charles Odibo in a statement.
“Since when did the commissioning of unfinished, partial stretches of road become the new normal of governance in Nigeria? How low has the bar for ‘achievement’ sunk that a government now celebrates fractions of projects with fanfare, motorcades and millions of naira in public funds while the vast majority of the highway remains incomplete?”
According to the coalition Nigeria is a country in social and economic crisis with 140 million citizens living below poverty line, education remains in shambles with millions of children out of school.
“Yet this government finds the resources and the appetite for repeated expensive ceremonies over incomplete roads. It is a clear demonstration that the Tinubu administration lacks the competence, capacity, compassion and character required to govern a serious nation.
“Enough of the ceremonies. Deliver the full road. Fix the indices that actually matter. Nigeria deserves better.”
Lagos- Calabar Highway...construction remains within Lagos State.