The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway was renamed in honour of President Bola Tinubu by the federal government, which asserts that Tinubu came up with the idea for the project while he was governor of Lagos.

At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Minister of Works David Umahi made the announcement.

Additionally, Tinubu approved the construction of the 5.76-kilometer Lau bridge, the completion of the abandoned Ibi bridge in Taraba state, the 400-kilometer extension of the fourth legacy highway, the dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West road, and the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan motorway with reinforced concrete pavement.

According to Umahi, the ministry chose to rename the route in recognition of Tinubu’s vision for the significant infrastructure project.

“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” he stated.

“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.”

According to the minister, Tinubu came up with the idea almost thirty years ago.

“He had that goal while serving as governor of Lagos state 27 years ago. It is one thing to dream, but quite another to receive God’s grace to make that dream a reality. “This is one man who has the grace and divine mandate to make his dreams a reality,” he remarked.

The initial part of the 750-kilometer coastal route, which runs from Victoria Island to Eleko town in Lagos, serves as a model of contemporary highway construction, according to Umahi.

He mentioned that work was in progress in the states of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, and Ondo, and that the second section, which stretches from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun border, is almost 60% complete and expected to be significantly completed by November.

The minister also disclosed that Tinubu has approved a 400-kilometer extension of the fourth legacy route, making the vital corridor around 1,100 kilometres long.

According to Umahi, road development approvals statewide would boost economic activity, improve connectivity, and increase national cohesion.