President Bola Tinubu has pledged increased funding for infrastructure development while urging governors to collaborate with the federal government to streamline building approvals. This commitment was made during the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant in Lagos on Thursday.
In his address, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of aligning state and federal approvals to facilitate the timely construction of major roads and bridges across the country. He directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and the Surveyor General of the Federation to work closely with the governors to achieve these goals.
“Please, my dear governors, let’s work together. Don’t give planning approvals without collaboration with the Surveyor General and the Ministry of Works. I am appealing to you to realize the same development goal,” he stated.
The President reiterated the federal government’s ban on dredging within a 10km radius of all national bridges, urging immediate compliance from governors and relevant agencies.
This event comes shortly after President Tinubu commissioned Phase 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, further demonstrating his administration’s focus on durable infrastructure. During the ceremony, he commended various contractors, including Hitech Construction Company Limited and Dangote Industries Limited, for their contributions to Nigeria’s road development.
Addressing critics of the government’s infrastructure projects, Tinubu defended the systematic and transparent approach taken in the award of contracts, clarifying that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project consists of multiple sections rather than a single wholesale contract.
He also highlighted the ongoing work on the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, noting that significant progress has been made on various sections of the ambitious project, expected to enhance agricultural and trade potential across several Nigerian states.
Various other projects were flagged off, including several significant road constructions and rehabilitations across the country, aimed at improving connectivity and fostering economic development.
Governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani, spoke on behalf of attendees, expressing gratitude for the removal of the subsidy, which has reportedly increased allocations to states for vital sectors including health, education, and infrastructure.
President Tinubu concluded by thanking key private sector figures, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for their ongoing investments in Nigeria’s infrastructure, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration between the government and private sector to drive the nation’s development agenda.