President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, increasing the strategic road corridor from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres, Minister of Works David Umahi announced on Thursday.
Umahi, who disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja, also revealed that the President approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge and the dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.
He described the approvals as another major step in the Federal Government’s infrastructure renewal programme, aimed at enhancing national integration, boosting economic activities and improving regional connectivity.
According to the minister, the latest approvals demonstrate Tinubu’s commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure projects across the country.
Fourth Legacy Highway Extended by 400km Speaking on the expansion of the Fourth Legacy Highway, Umahi said the President approved the additional 400 kilometres on Wednesday.
“The greatest story is that yesterday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy Road. That is unprecedented,” he said.
The minister explained that the extension would take the highway into Taraba State, strengthening transportation links between the North-Central and North-East regions.
According to him, the route will pass through several historic communities and notable towns before terminating in Taraba.
“That project will pass through the place of General Gowon. It will pass through the place of Solomon Lar. It will pass through the place of the present National Chairman of the APC. It goes down to Taraba, and that is unprecedented,” Umahi stated.
The Fourth Legacy Highway was initially conceived as a dual carriageway linking Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu.
The latest extension will further connect the corridor to Taraba State.
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Be Rebuilt
Umahi also announced that Tinubu had approved the complete reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after sections of the road began deteriorating less than five years after rehabilitation.
“The President approved yesterday the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Road, and that is the justification for our fight for the use of reinforced concrete pavement,” he said.
The minister said the 135-kilometre dual carriageway had shown signs of failure despite several maintenance interventions.
“It is 135 kilometres by two carriageways. That project is not up to five years old, yet it has already started failing. We took journalists there. We took members of the National Assembly there. You could see the road failing. They repaired it, and it still failed,” he said.
Umahi argued that reinforced concrete pavement offers a more durable alternative to asphalt.
“The answer is to reconstruct it using reinforced concrete pavement that will last between 50 and 100 years, maintenance-free,” he added.
Tinubu Approves Ibi, Lau Bridges in Taraba
The minister further disclosed that the President approved the completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge project in Taraba State.
“That bridge was awarded in 2018, got to about 40 per cent completion and was abandoned. Yesterday, the President approved the review and completion of the Ibi Bridge in Taraba State,” Umahi said.
He also announced approval for the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge across the Benue River.
“The Lau Bridge in Taraba State, which is 5.76 kilometres across the river, the President approved that it should be designed, procured and awarded,” he stated.
400km East-West Road Dualisation Approved Umahi disclosed that Tinubu also approved the dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road corridor.
“The President also approved 400 kilometres of dualised East-West Road running from Lokoja down to Benin. This is another very important intervention in our road infrastructure,” he said.
According to the minister, the project will improve safety, facilitate trade and reduce travel time along one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors.
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Renamed After Tinubu In another major announcement, Umahi said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would henceforth be known as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.
He explained that the decision was taken by the Ministry of Works in recognition of Tinubu’s role in conceiving and driving the project.
“That 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 Honourable Minister of State, directors and staff of the ministry, we decided to name it after him because of his dream for it,” he said.
The minister recalled that Tinubu first conceived the idea nearly three decades ago while serving as Governor of Lagos State.
“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. This is one man that dreams and has the grace and divine mandate to actualise that dream,” Umahi added.
Progress on Coastal Highway
Providing updates on the 750-kilometre coastal highway, Umahi said work was progressing simultaneously across multiple sections.
According to him, Section One, stretching 47.47 kilometres from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos State, has become a model for modern highway construction.
“Section One, from Victoria Island to Eleko Village, is 47.47 kilometres. It is a dual carriageway with a 25-metre median reserved for a future railway line. That project is a beauty to behold,” he said.
He disclosed that Section Two, extending from Eleko Village to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, has reached about 60 per cent completion.
“We believe that by the end of November we would have finished that project. What may remain will be some of the bridges because of the complexity of the structures,” he said.
Umahi noted that the highway corridor includes several mega bridges designed to withstand heavy industrial traffic around the Dangote Refinery axis.
“At the corridor of the Dangote Refinery, we have to take into consideration the kind of trucks and the frequency of trucks there. We have bridges with spans of 80 metres instead of the traditional 15 metres. We have about nine mega bridges and flyovers in Section One and about 10 bridges in Section Two,” he explained.
The minister added that Section Three, covering 75 kilometres from Calabar, is about 30 per cent complete, while Section Four, spanning 82 kilometres through Ogun and Ondo states, has attained about 20 per cent completion.
He said the 180-kilometre Section Five in Akwa Ibom State is also progressing despite pending mobilisation funds.
Sokoto-Badagry, Trans-Sahara Highways Progressing Umahi also provided updates on the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, describing it as the fulfilment of a vision conceived during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari more than 50 years ago.
“The dream of our founding fathers during the Shagari administration over 50 years ago is being actualised. Presidents came and went, but nobody attempted it. Today, work is ongoing from Ilela to Sokoto, from Kebbi and also from the Badagry end,” he said.
He further highlighted progress on the Trans-Sahara Highway, noting that the project would significantly improve connectivity between the South-East and the Federal Capital Territory by reducing travel time through sections in Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi states.
The Federal Government’s Legacy Projects comprise the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Trans-Sahara Highway and the Akwanga-Maiduguri Highway, all designed to boost economic growth, improve connectivity and strengthen national integration under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
