Minister of Works David Umahi has explained why the Federal Government renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the decision was taken to honour the President’s long-standing vision for the project, which dates back to his time as governor of Lagos State.
Umahi gave the explanation on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja.
He also announced that Tinubu had approved a 400-kilometre extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway and the reconstruction of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The minister said the Ministry of Works reached the decision after consultations involving the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Minister of State, directors and other senior officials.
Read Also:FLASHBACK: Nigeria wasted billions of naira on TAM on 4 refineries despite Mele Kyari’s promise in 2019
“That (coastal) 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 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,” he said.
Umahi described the first phase of the 750-kilometre highway, stretching from Victoria Island to Lekki, as a landmark infrastructure project.
He said the 47.47-kilometre six-lane carriageway features a 25-metre-wide median reserved for the construction of a future railway line.
The minister also disclosed that Tinubu had approved an additional 400 kilometres for the Fourth Legacy Highway, expanding the project from 700 kilometres to 1,100 kilometres.
He said the road, originally planned to connect Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu, will now extend into Taraba State.
“The greatest story is that yesterday President Bola Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy Road. That is an 800-kilometre road now extended to 1,100 kilometres, and that is unprecedented,” he said.
Umahi added that the President also approved the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State and the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lao Bridge.
