The Federal Government has officially renamed the ongoing 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The infrastructure asset will now be known as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a comprehensive press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Umahi explained that the decision was reached following extensive internal consultations with the permanent secretary, directors, and the entire staff of the Ministry of Works.
Honoring a 27-Year-Old Dream
Defending the choice to attach the President’s name to the mega-project before its full completion, Umahi stated that the renaming was an act of posterity to honor the man who originally conceived the infrastructural layout.
According to the minister, the blueprint for the coastal road dates back more than two decades to when Tinubu served as the Governor of Lagos State.
“This is a dream that Mr. President had about 27 years ago. It is one thing to conceive a vision, but it is another thing to have the courage, leadership, and God’s grace to bring that vision to reality. Today, President Tinubu is making that dream come alive for Nigerians.” — Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi
Massive Project Expansions and Upgrades Okayed
Beyond the renaming, the press briefing served as a platform for the Ministry of Works to outline a series of new presidential approvals targeting major national transit corridors:
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The Fourth Legacy Highway Extension: President Tinubu approved an additional 400-kilometre extension to the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri Superhighway. The project length has been increased from 700km to 1,100km to loop directly into Taraba State.
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Lagos–Ibadan Expressway Overhaul: Recognizing that key sections of the critical economic artery have repeatedly failed within less than five years of completion, the President approved a full reconstruction of the 135-kilometre dual carriageway using rigid, reinforced concrete pavement technology.
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East-West Road Expansion: The administration greenlit an additional 400 kilometres of dual carriageway running down from Lokoja to Benin.
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Restoring Abandoned Triggers: Approval was secured to review and complete the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge project in Taraba State, which has been stuck at 40 percent completion since 2018.
Dismissing Environmental and Procurement Backlash
Addressing the lingering controversies surrounding the ₦15 trillion coastal highway, Umahi firmly pushed back against claims that the heavy construction contributed to recent flash floods in parts of Lagos.
Citing findings from a joint ministerial inspection, the minister argued that the physical road structure acts as a protective barrier against ocean surges, shielding inner communities. He noted that settlements on the seaward side remain exposed due to their geographical vulnerability to the Atlantic Ocean, not the construction layout.
Furthermore, Umahi defended the restrictive bidding process applied to the project, insisting that the specialized and highly technical nature of the marine engineering involved legally justified bypassing standard open competitive bidding under the Public Procurement Act.
Currently, construction is actively moving forward on more than 360 kilometres of the 750km total span, with Section One (Victoria Island to Lekki) serving as the administration’s primary showcase.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
