FG Renames Coastal Highway After Tinubu, Honours Decades-Old Vision

The FG renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Tinubu, marking a major tribute to a project the government says began as his personal vision decades ago. Officials confirmed the decision honours his role in conceiving the 750-kilometre infrastructure project long before it broke ground.

Minister of Works Dave Umahi revealed the renaming on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja. He explained that Tinubu first imagined this coastal corridor roughly 27 years ago while serving as Lagos State governor. According to Umahi, the highway will now officially carry the name President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.

FG Renames Highway to Recognize Tinubu’s Original Vision

Umahi described the decision-making process behind the announcement. He noted that his ministry, working alongside the Permanent Secretary, Minister of State, and other senior staff, jointly agreed to honour Tinubu because of his early dream for the project. The minister emphasized that dreaming alone rarely guarantees results, since actualizing such visions demands both grace and genuine follow-through.

Beyond the coastal highway, Umahi also announced several other major infrastructure approvals from the President. Tinubu approved extending the Fourth Legacy Highway by another 400 kilometres, which pushes the entire corridor toward roughly 1,100 kilometres altogether. Additionally, the President greenlit reconstructing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement instead of traditional asphalt.

Other approved projects include completing the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State and constructing the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge. Furthermore, Tinubu approved dualizing another 400 kilometres along the East-West Road, expanding infrastructure investment across multiple regions simultaneously.

Coastal Highway Construction Update Following FG Renaming Decision

Umahi provided fresh details regarding construction progress across the coastal highway’s various sections. He explained that the first phase, running from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos, now serves as a benchmark for modern highway construction standards nationwide.

Meanwhile, the second section stretching from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary has reached roughly 60 percent completion. Officials expect substantial delivery of this segment by November, according to the minister’s briefing. Construction work also continues across Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, and Ondo states simultaneously, reflecting the highway’s expansive multi-state footprint.

This renaming builds on a broader pattern within Tinubu’s presidency, as several locations across Nigeria have already adopted his name since he assumed office. For readers curious about the highway’s overall route and engineering scope, Wikipedia’s entry on Nigerian highway infrastructure provides useful background on the country’s broader road network development.

As construction continues across multiple states, the government appears determined to complete this ambitious coastal corridor within its projected timeline. Nigerians will likely watch closely as more sections near completion throughout the coming months, particularly given the project’s symbolic weight following this latest renaming decision.