The minister of works, Engr David Umahi has named Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi explained that Tinubu conceived the idea and it was only proper to honour him even before the completion of the entire project for posterity.
The minister also announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sanctioned the commencement of additional 800 kilometres road projects that will link different parts of the country and bring development closer to the people .
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, Umahi said: “If we start with the Lagos Calabar, 750 kilometres. We have Section 1, which is from a VI to a local village, 47.47 kilometres. Two carriageway, with 25-metre train track at the middle.
“That project is a beauty to behold and that highway is named President Bola Tinubu Coastal Highway. That’s what we have named the entire coastal highway, by the power conferred on me as the Minister of Works, in consultation with my permanent secretary, Minister of Works, States, and the directors of the ministry, and indeed the Union, and all staff of the ministry.
“We decided to name that after him because of his dream for it.
“He had that dream about 27 years back as governor of Lagos State and it’s one thing to dream, and another thing to have the grace of God for you to actualise your dream.”
Speaking further on the additional road projects, the minister said they include; 400 kilometers on the fourth legacy project and another 400 km on the East West road.
According to him, the fourth legacy project is a 700-kilometre superhighway connecting Akwanga (Nasarawa State) to Maiduguri (Borno State) via Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, and Biu.
The additional 400 kilometers brings the road to 1,100 kilometer connecting Plateau and Taraba States.
The minister of Works disclosed also that the President’s desire to fast track infrastructure projects across the country also led to the approval and reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan highway on reinforced concrete pavement.
“And so other project that the president approved yesterday is the reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan Road. And that’s the justification for our fight for the use of reinforced concrete pavement.
“You know, it’s 135 kilometre by two. Already, that project that is not up to five years, you know, completed by two giants of construction companies have already, the projects, you know, have already started failing. In Ibadan bound, we took journalists there, we took the National Assembly there.
” It’s failing like this. They have repaired it and it’s still failing. So the answer is to reconstruct it using reinforced concrete pavement that will last between 50 and 100 years, maintenance free,” he said.
Umahi said the President also approved the Lao Bridge in Taraba State, which is a 5.76 kilometre bridge to be designed,procured and awarded.
“The Lao Bridge, Lao Bridge in Taraba State, you know, 5.76 kilometre of an ocean, the president approved that it should be designed, it should be procured and be awarded,” he added.
“The other projects that I will let you know that, were approved yesterday, you know, for this thing. But before I conclude the legacy project, let me say that yesterday, the president awarded, also approved for the award of contract for two projects in Southeast.
“The greatest story is that yesterday, President Bola Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometre to our fourth legacy road. That is the 800 kilometre of road to that fourth legacy projects, passing from plateau down to Taraba, and that is unprecedented. It brings that fourth legacy projects to 1,100”.
Umahi said that the President also approved additional 400km dualised for East West road.
According to the minister, President Tinubu also approved the Ibi bridge in Taraba which has been abandoned
He said: “And so that bridge was awarded in 2018, 40% done, abandoned since that time and yesterday, the president approved the review and the completion of that Imbi Bridge in Taraba State.”
He also revealed that the president approved 400 kilometre dualise of a section of East-West Road and that is running from Lokoja down to Benin.