FG Names Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway After Tinubu

The Federal Government has officially renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway, saying the project originated from an idea President Bola Tinubu conceived during his time as Governor of Lagos State almost three decades ago.

Minister of Works Dave Umahi announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja. He said the ministry approved the new name in recognition of Tinubu’s role in initiating the vision for the 750-kilometre coastal road project.

Umahi explained that the decision was taken after consultations with the Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, directors and other officials of the Federal Ministry of Works. He said the ministry agreed that naming the highway after the President was a fitting way to acknowledge the long-standing vision that eventually became a reality.

According to the minister, Tinubu first proposed the idea of the coastal highway about 27 years ago while serving as governor of Lagos State. He said the President not only conceived the project but also had the opportunity to bring it to life after assuming office as Nigeria’s leader.

Umahi also disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by another 400 kilometres. With the new approval, the total length of the corridor will increase to about 1,100 kilometres.

He added that the President also approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with 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.

Giving an update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the minister said work is progressing in different sections of the project across the country.

He explained that the first section, stretching from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos State, is being used as the standard for modern highway construction in Nigeria. He added that the second section, running from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, is about 60 per cent complete and is expected to be largely finished by November.

Umahi further stated that construction activities are also ongoing in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states as work continues on the coastal highway project.