Tinubu approves new highway extension, Lagos-Ibadan reconstruction
By Taiwo Scholarstica
President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, increasing the total length of the strategic road corridor from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, where he also announced the President’s approval for the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using 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.
Umahi described the approvals as another major step in the Federal Government’s infrastructure renewal programme, saying the projects would strengthen national integration, improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities across the country.
According to him, the latest approvals reflect the Tinubu administration’s commitment to delivering landmark infrastructure projects in every geopolitical zone.
Speaking on the expansion of the Fourth Legacy Highway, the minister said the President granted the approval 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,” Umahi said.
He explained that the new stretch would extend the highway into Taraba State, improving road links between the North-Central and North-East regions.
According to him, the route will pass through several notable communities and towns before reaching 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,” he said.
The Fourth Legacy Highway was initially designed as a dual carriageway connecting Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu. The newly approved extension will further link the corridor to Taraba State.
Umahi also announced that President Tinubu had approved the complete reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after parts of the road showed signs of deterioration less than five years after rehabilitation.
He said the approval validates the ministry’s push for the use of reinforced concrete pavement on major highways.
“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 noted that the existing asphalt pavement had continued to fail despite repeated repairs.
“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 stated.
According to him, reinforced concrete pavement provides a more durable alternative.
“The answer is to reconstruct it using reinforced concrete pavement that will last between 50 and 100 years, maintenance-free,” the minister said.
Umahi further disclosed that the President had approved the completion of the 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,” he stated.
He also announced the 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 said.
The minister added that Tinubu had approved the dualisation of another 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 stated.
Umahi said the project would improve road safety, ease the movement of goods and people and reduce travel time along one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.
In another announcement, the minister revealed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would now be known as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.
He said the decision was taken by the Ministry of Works in recognition of Tinubu’s long-standing vision for 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.
Umahi recalled that Tinubu first conceived the idea over two 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,” he said.
Providing updates on the 750-kilometre coastal highway, Umahi said construction is progressing across multiple sections.
“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 the second section, stretching 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 explained that several large bridges are being constructed along the corridor to accommodate 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.
He added that construction was also progressing on sections in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states.
According to him, 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 recorded about 20 per cent progress. He also noted that work is advancing on the 180-kilometre Section Five in Akwa Ibom despite pending mobilisation funds.
The minister also provided updates on the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, describing it as the fulfilment of a vision conceived over 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 added that the project is expected to reduce travel time between Sokoto and Lagos to about 10 hours at an average speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
Umahi further highlighted progress on the Trans-Sahara Highway, noting that ongoing construction through Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi states would significantly improve connectivity between the South-East and the Federal Capital Territory while reducing travel time.
The Federal Government’s Legacy Projects comprise four flagship highway corridors aimed at improving connectivity, promoting economic growth and strengthening national integration. They include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Trans-Sahara Highway and the Akwanga-Maiduguri Highway.
Since assuming office in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has prioritised large-scale road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with the Ministry of Works increasingly adopting reinforced concrete