The Federal Government has officially renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the decision recognises his long-standing vision for the landmark infrastructure project.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the decision during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He said the ministry resolved to rename the highway after consultations with its leadership and staff.
According to Umahi, Tinubu first conceived the idea for the coastal highway about 27 years ago while serving as governor of Lagos State and has now brought the vision to life as President.
“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.”
“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.”
He added:
“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.”
Umahi also disclosed that Tinubu approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, bringing the strategic corridor to about 1,100 kilometres.
The President also approved 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.
The minister added that work is progressing on different sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with the second section from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary about 60 per cent complete and expected to be substantially finished by November. He said the projects are expected to improve connectivity, strengthen national integration and boost economic activities across the country.
