The Federal Government has announced plans to construct what could become Africa’s first underwater tunnel, a flagship project in its infrastructure development agenda.
The tunnel, expected to stretch 2.9 kilometres, will link Ahmadu Bello Way to Snake Island and extend toward Badagry, connecting two major corridors—the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry highways. Officials say the project will ease traffic congestion in Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest commercial hub, while boosting national connectivity.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during an inspection tour, explaining that the tunnel will be delivered under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Land assets within the project area will serve as a primary funding source, attracting private capital and reducing reliance on government borrowing.
“We hope to use this land under PPP to fund the project, under Build, Operate, and Transfer,” Umahi stated.
He also shed light on the federal government’s new procurement policy, which bars expatriate companies from bidding on contracts worth less than ₦20 billion. The move, he said, is intended to empower indigenous contractors, while affirming that local firms are capable of executing large-scale projects.
According to Umahi, both the tunnel initiative and the revised procurement policy are part of a wider government strategy to improve infrastructure, stimulate economic activity, and create more opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
