Lagos — the megacity of dreams, commerce, chaos, and opportunity — is on the brink of engineering history. Nigeria’s Federal Government has unveiled plans to build what could become Africa’s first underwater tunnel, an ambitious infrastructure project that aims to transform traffic mobility, inter-regional connectivity, and economic growth across West Africa. This engineering marvel — a 2.9-kilometre tunnel beneath the Lagos Lagoon — will link Victoria Island’s Ahmadu Bello Way to Snake Island before extending toward Badagry, seamlessly integrating with the country’s broader national highway network.
This blog post explores:
What the tunnel project is and why it matters
How it fits into Nigeria’s national transportation strategy
What it means for Lagos traffic, commerce, and urban development
The role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
Why this project could reframe African infrastructure development
Let’s dive deep.
A Tunnel Unlike Any Other in Africa
At approximately 2.9 kilometres long, the proposed Lagos underwater tunnel will be one of the continent’s most audacious transport engineering feats. According to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, the structure will run beneath the waters of the Lagos Lagoon — effectively becoming the first tunnel in Africa constructed under a major body of water.
The project is distinct from traditional bridges or coastal roads. Instead of crossing over the water, it dives beneath the lagoon, allowing traffic to move uninterrupted between two major urban areas — Victoria Island and Badagry — without the congestion, height limitations, or maritime interference that plague above-water crossings.
This tunnel isn’t just another road. It’s a strategic connector that plugs into two of Nigeria’s largest road projects:
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway — a transformative 700-kilometre corridor expected to slash travel times between Lagos and Calabar while boosting economic activity along Nigeria’s southern coastline.
The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway — a 1,068-kilometre expressway designed to link Nigeria’s northwestern regions with the bustling commercial hubs of the south.
By physically connecting these major arteries, the tunnel will facilitate smoother logistics flows, reduce bottlenecks on existing bridges, and serve as a critical link in Nigeria’s expanding national transport network.
Why This Tunnel Matters to Lagos Traffic and Urban Mobility
Lagos is infamous for its congested roads. Despite existing bridges like the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge, daily gridlock remains a persistent challenge. The volume of vehicles — coupled with rapid urban expansion — means that new solutions are badly needed. The underwater tunnel offers a way to bypass traditional choke points, providing an alternative route that diverts heavy and through-traffic away from congested city roads.
The tunnel will allow motorists and commercial vehicles to travel from Victoria Island — the heart of Lagos’s financial district — to Lagos’s far western edge and beyond with greater speed and efficiency. For commuters, this can mean less time stuck in traffic and more predictable transit experiences. For businesses, it represents a dramatic improvement in logistics and delivery times, especially for cargo movements heading toward the Southwest and beyond.
Furthermore, by linking directly with major national highways, the tunnel helps establish Lagos not just as Nigeria’s economic hub, but as a genuine transportation node for West Africa.
A Bold National Vision: Connecting Coastal and Inland Corridors
To understand the tunnel’s full significance, it’s essential to look at how it fits into Nigeria’s broader national transportation strategy.
**1. Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
– A 700-km Testimony to Visionary Planning**
Flagged off under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is set to revolutionize travel along Nigeria’s coastline. Once completed, it will span nine states — from Lagos in the west all the way to Cross River in the east — and drastically reduce travel times for passengers and freight alike.
In addition to accelerating traffic movement, this coastal highway is also designed with future-proofing in mind — incorporating provisions for rail integration, flyovers, and industrial hubs that can support long-term economic growth.
The underwater tunnel at the Lagos end enhances this project’s value by providing a direct and efficient connection point to further networks.
**2. Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway
– Reimagining Northern and Southern Linkages**
The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, another flagship national project, breaks through traditional regional transport barriers by linking the northwest to Nigeria’s coastal west. With an approved budget running into trillions of naira, this highway exemplifies a long-term strategy to integrate Nigeria’s economic regions and stimulate seamless trade flows across vast distances.
The underwater tunnel physically bridges the coastal route with the Sokoto-Badagry corridor, boosting interregional connectivity and creating a nearly continuous trans-national travel spine across the country.
Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Funding a Future-Ready Nigeria
Innovative ideas often struggle in execution without smart financing. That’s why the Federal Government is pursuing this tunnel project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model — specifically, Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT).
Instead of relying solely on borrowed capital, the Nigerian government plans to leverage land assets around Snake Island and Badagry as funding mechanisms. This allows private investors to participate in financing and operating the tunnel project — in return for future returns — before ownership reverts to the government.
This approach has multiple advantages:
Reduces pressure on public finances
Mitigates reliance on external borrowing
Attracts domestic and international private investment
Encourages efficient project execution and operation
By tying the tunnel’s financing to practical land use plans, infrastructure investment becomes sustainable, scalable, and aligned with broader urban development schemes.
Economic and Social Impact: What This Means for Nigerians
The tunnel means far more than just faster travel. Its implications are far-reaching:
• Job Creation and Economic Growth
Large infrastructure projects generate opportunities across sectors — from construction to logistics, services, and maintenance. Employment — both direct and indirect — will rise during the project’s lifespan and beyond, helping invigorate local economies in Lagos, Ogun, and neighboring regions.
• Trade and Commerce Acceleration
Improved connectivity shortens travel times and reduces transportation costs. This translates into a better business environment, enhanced supply chain reliability, and a stronger appeal for foreign investment.
• Urban Decongestion and Quality of Life
By offering alternative traffic routes and diverting heavy vehicles off inner-city roads, the tunnel promises smoother intra-city mobility. This can reduce commute times dramatically and improve urban livability.
• Continental Leadership in Infrastructure Development
If completed on schedule, this project will elevate Lagos — and Nigeria — to a new echelon of engineering prowess in Africa. It challenges the continent to think big and adopt large-scale modern solutions previously associated with developed economies.
Conclusion: Lagos’s Blueprint for Future-Ready Urban Transformation
The underwater tunnel linking Ahmadu Bello Way to Snake Island and Badagry is poised to be more than an infrastructure project. It’s a symbol of African innovation, ambition, and engineering excellence.
By intertwining Lagos’s urban traffic needs with national and regional highway strategies, this project helps redefine Nigeria’s place in the continent’s economic landscape. Its reliance on a PPP model adds financial sustainability, while its integration with the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry highways creates a network effect that boosts national connectivity and trade.
When completed, Lagos — already a symbol of Nigerian dynamism — will stand even taller as a hub of modern infrastructure, strategic planning, and visionary thinking. The countdown to a new chapter in African engineering history has begun.
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