The Federal Government has described the ongoing Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue Trans-Sahara Superhighway as a major economic corridor that will unlock trade opportunities, attract investments, and strengthen regional connectivity across Nigeria's South-East, South-South, and North-Central zones.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made the disclosure while inspecting ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State, stressing that the highway represents far more than a transportation project.
According to the minister, the superhighway is designed to serve as a strategic investment corridor that will facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, industrial goods, services, and capital across multiple regions of the country. He noted that products such as cassava, yam, cashew, and palm oil from Cross River, Ebonyi, and Benue States would gain easier access to domestic and international markets through the new route.
Umahi explained that the project revives a long-abandoned vision aimed at linking key economic zones and border trade routes. He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reviving the initiative and ensuring that construction commenced.
Providing updates on construction progress, the minister disclosed that Section One of the project, initially planned as a 118-kilometre single carriageway, was later expanded to cover dual carriageways spanning approximately 123.6 kilometres. The section is being executed at a cost running into hundreds of billions of naira, with procurement and construction activities advancing steadily.
He further revealed that Section Two stretches from the Ebonyi border through Benue and Kogi States to Nasarawa State and has already recorded significant progress, with some portions reaching about 28 percent completion despite the ongoing rainy season.
Umahi attributed the project's steady pace to the adoption of concrete pavement technology, which allows work to continue during adverse weather conditions while providing greater durability for heavy-duty commercial traffic expected to use the corridor.
The minister emphasized that the superhighway would play a critical role in reducing transportation bottlenecks, lowering logistics costs, and improving access to markets for farmers, manufacturers, and investors. He added that the road would strengthen economic ties between communities while opening new opportunities for industrial growth and regional development.
Beyond road construction, the Federal Government is also developing complementary infrastructure and support projects along the corridor to maximize economic benefits and attract private-sector participation. Officials believe the highway will enhance trade, improve security, and stimulate socio-economic activities across the regions it traverses.
When completed, the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue Trans-Sahara Superhighway is expected to emerge as one of Nigeria's most significant transport corridors, connecting agricultural belts, industrial clusters, and international trade routes while accelerating economic growth across the country.
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