The Federal Government has officially renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway, describing the landmark project as the fulfilment of a vision first conceived by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nearly three decades ago.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, saying the move was in recognition of Tinubu’s role in initiating the idea for the 750-kilometre coastal highway while serving as Governor of Lagos State.
“That highway is named the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” Umahi declared.
He explained that the decision was reached in consultation with the ministry’s leadership, including the Permanent Secretary, Minister of State, directors and other officials.
“By the powers conferred on me as Minister of Works, and in consultation with my Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, directors and staff of the ministry, we decided to name it after him because of his dream for it,” he said.
Umahi noted that Tinubu conceived the ambitious project about 27 years ago, stressing that the President not only envisioned the highway but also demonstrated the leadership needed to bring it to reality.
“He had that dream about 27 years back as Governor of Lagos State. It is one thing to dream and another thing to have the grace of God to actualise that dream. This is one man who dreams and has the grace and divine mandate to actualise that dream,” the minister added.
Beyond the renaming, Umahi disclosed that President Tinubu has approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, expanding the proposed corridor to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
He also announced presidential approval for the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge, and the dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.
Providing an update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, the minister said construction is progressing steadily across multiple sections.
According to him, the first phase of the highway, stretching from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos, is serving as a benchmark for modern road infrastructure in Nigeria. He added that the second section, from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has reached about 60 per cent completion and is expected to be substantially delivered by November.
Umahi further stated that construction activities are currently ongoing in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states as the Federal Government pushes ahead with one of the country’s most ambitious road infrastructure projects.
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