FG Renames Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

The Federal Government has officially renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway, saying the decision recognizes President Bola Tinubu’s longstanding vision for the ambitious infrastructure project.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the development during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday. He explained that the decision was taken in consultation with the leadership and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works.

According to Umahi, the highway was conceived by Tinubu more than two decades ago during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, and the ministry considered it fitting to immortalize the President’s role in bringing the project to reality.

The minister said the renaming was approved under the authority of the Ministry of Works, stressing that while many leaders have ideas, only a few are able to see such large-scale projects through to implementation.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s flagship road infrastructure projects. The coastal route is designed to connect Lagos with Calabar through several coastal states, with the aim of improving transportation, enhancing regional trade, stimulating tourism, and opening up economic opportunities along Nigeria’s southern corridor.

Umahi also disclosed that President Tinubu had approved a 400-kilometre extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway and the reconstruction of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as part of ongoing efforts to expand the country’s road network.

The renaming has already generated public discussion, with supporters describing it as recognition of the President’s contribution to the project, while critics have questioned the timing of the decision as construction on the highway continues.