The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, saying the renaming recognises President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the project, which he said dates back to Tinubu’s time as Governor of Lagos State about 27 years ago.
“By the powers conferred on me as Minister of Works, in consultation with the Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, directors and staff of the ministry, we have decided to name it the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway because of his dream for it,” Umahi said.
According to the minister, Tinubu conceived the idea for the coastal highway while serving as Lagos governor, and has now overseen its implementation as President.
“He had that dream about 27 years ago as governor of Lagos State. It is one thing to dream and another thing to have the grace to actualise that dream,” he added.
Umahi also disclosed that President Tinubu has approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, increasing the planned corridor from about 750 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
He further announced presidential approval for:
– Reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with reinforced concrete pavement.
– Completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State.
– Construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge.
– Dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.
Providing an update on the coastal highway project, Umahi said work is progressing across multiple sections.
He noted that the first section, from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos, is serving as a model for modern highway construction, while the second section, from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, is about 60 per cent complete and expected to be substantially delivered by November.
He added that construction is also ongoing in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states.
