The federal government renamed the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway after President Bola Tinubu, claiming that he conceived of the project while serving as governor of Lagos.
Minister of Works David Umahi announced the decision during a media event in Abuja on Thursday.
Tinubu also approved the extension of the fourth legacy highway by 400 kilometres, the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the 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.
Umahi stated that the ministry decided to rename the highway in honor of Tinubu’s vision for the major infrastructure project.
“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” he stated.
“By the powers conferred on me as minister of works, 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.”
The minister claimed Tinubu came up with the notion about three decades ago.
“He had that goal while serving as governor of Lagos state 27 years ago. It is one thing to dream, but quite another to receive God’s grace to make that dream a reality. “This is one man who has the grace and divine mandate to make his dreams a reality,” he remarked.
Umahi noted that work was underway on several sections of the 750-kilometer coastal route, with the first segment, from Victoria Island to Eleko village in Lagos, serving as an example for modern highway building.
He noted that the second portion, which runs from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun border, was roughly 60% complete and projected to be substantially finished by November, while work was also underway in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, and Ondo states.
The minister also revealed that Tinubu has approved an extension of the fourth legacy route by 400 kilometres, increasing the crucial corridor to around 1,100 kilometers.
Umahi stated that road development approvals across the country would promote connectivity, strengthen national integration, and stimulate economic activity nationwide.
