FG renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after Tinubu

The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing his long-standing vision for the project.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, noting that the 750-kilometre highway idea dates back to Tinubu’s time as governor of Lagos State.

“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” Umahi said.

“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.”

Umahi explained that the President conceived the coastal highway project about 27 years ago while serving as Lagos governor, describing the project’s execution as the fulfilment of a long-held vision.

“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,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that Tinubu had approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, bringing the total planned stretch to about 1,100 kilometres.

He added that the President approved several other major infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge, and the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.

Providing updates on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said work is ongoing across multiple sections.

He noted that the first phase, from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos, is setting a benchmark for modern road 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.

According to him, construction activities are also progressing in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states.