The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in honour of President Bola Tinubu, attributing the landmark project to a vision he conceived while serving as governor of Lagos State.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the development on Thursday during a briefing with journalists in Abuja, saying the highway will henceforth be known as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.
Umahi said the decision was taken by the leadership of the Ministry of Works as a recognition of Tinubu’s role in initiating the concept of the coastal road many years ago.
According to the minister, the President first envisioned the project about 27 years ago, long before assuming the nation’s highest office.
He said the road project demonstrates Tinubu’s ability to translate long-term ideas into reality, noting that the administration has made significant progress in delivering critical infrastructure across the country.
The minister explained that consultations were held with key officials of the ministry before the decision to rename the highway was reached.
Umahi also announced a series of fresh infrastructure approvals granted by the President, including the extension of the fourth legacy highway by an additional 400 kilometres.
The approval increases the total length of the corridor to approximately 1,100 kilometres, further expanding its strategic importance to national transportation and economic development.
He disclosed that Tinubu had equally approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete technology, the completion of the long-delayed Ibi Bridge project in Taraba State, the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge and additional dualisation works on the East-West Road.
Giving an update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said construction was progressing steadily across several sections of the project.
He noted that the first phase, stretching from Victoria Island to Eleko in Lagos State, has become a reference point for modern road infrastructure, while the second section from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary has attained about 60 per cent completion.
According to him, the second segment is expected to be substantially completed by November.
The minister added that work is ongoing simultaneously in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states as the government pushes ahead with the ambitious coastal corridor project.
He expressed confidence that the various road projects being executed nationwide would improve connectivity, facilitate movement of goods and services, strengthen national cohesion and stimulate economic activities.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of the Federal Government’s flagship legacy projects, is expected to link several coastal states and serve as a major economic corridor when completed.
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