The Federal Government has renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway, with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, saying the move recognises President Bola Tinubu’s vision and commitment to the landmark infrastructure project.

Umahi announced the development on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, where he also revealed that the President had approved a 400-kilometre extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway, as well as the reconstruction of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The minister explained that the decision to rename the coastal highway was reached after consultations with the leadership and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works.

According to him, the ministry considered it appropriate to honour Tinubu for conceiving and driving the project, describing the highway as one of the administration’s signature infrastructure initiatives.

Umahi disclosed that the 47.47-kilometre, six-lane coastal highway was designed with a 25-metre-wide central median to accommodate a future railway corridor.

He further announced that President Tinubu had authorised the expansion of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, increasing the total length of the project from 700 kilometres to 1,100 kilometres.

The minister said the highway, initially planned to connect Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu, would now extend into Taraba State following the latest approval.

Describing the expansion as unprecedented, Umahi said the extension would significantly increase the reach of the strategic highway network.

He also disclosed that the President had approved the dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, the reconstruction of parts of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State and the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lao Bridge.

According to the minister, the approvals underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding road infrastructure, improving connectivity across the country, boosting economic activities and delivering a more efficient national transportation network.