The Federal Government has announced plans to construct an underwater tunnel to connect the ongoing Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry highways.

During an inspection tour in Lagos on Wednesday, David Umahi, the minister of works, said the tunnel will run for 2.9 kilometres, connecting Ahmadu Bello Way to Snake Island and extending to Badagry.“

“Our tunnel is inside the ground. It’s going to be 2.9 kilometres. When done, it’s going to be the first tunnel in Africa inside water,” Umahi said.

The minister explained that the project would be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, using land resources around Snake Island and Badagry to fund the initiative.

“Before people start shouting, oh, you want to borrow, we have land at Snake Island and by Badagry. We hope to use this land under PPP to fund the project, under Build, Operate, and Transfer,” he stated.

President Bola Tinubu will address the 80th Session of the high-level General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

In a list of speakers obtained from the UN headquarters, Tinubu will speak during the afternoon session at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, corresponding to 2:30 p.m. Nigerian time.

He is listed as the 17th world leader to speak on the second day of the general debate.

The general debate will bring together 195 world leaders, including 98 heads of state, five vice presidents, 44 heads of government, and four deputy prime ministers.

Other participants include 37 ministers, one crown prince, and four chairs of delegations.

Brazil’s President Luiz da Silva is scheduled to deliver the opening address, followed traditionally by the U.S. President, Donald Trump, as host country.

• Image: Carter Bridge Lagos

The Federal Government has announced plans for the construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos State, saying that the existing bridge is irredeemable.

During a comprehensive inspection of the bridge under the deck, the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made these remarks in Lagos.

He said: “What we did today is to see whether we can salvage the ramps, so that we cut down the cost of construction and the time of construction.

“That decision, we could not take. We need consultants and Berger to put their observations, and we have instruments we use to determine whether the observations are right or wrong.

“If the observations are as they have sent to us, then, it means that both the ramp and the main axial section of the Carter Bridge will have to go,” Umahi said.

He said that the previous Carter Bridge was demolished by explosives and is still underwater.

“Whatever we are doing, we have to consider removal of that so as not to affect our navigational activities.”

Umahi also said that the Federal Government wanted to determine if it could still salvage something from the Carter Bridge while taking a different alignment.

“The critical decision we have to take is: since it seems that all stakeholders are at peace that a new Carter Bridge should be constructed, is there any way we can salvage and repair something to be in use while we take a different alignment?”