Nigeria renames Lagos‑Calabar highway after Tinubu amid controversy

The Nigerian government has renamed the 750‑kilometre Lagos‑Calabar coastal highway after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Minister of Works David Umahi announced the decision at a briefing on Thursday, July 16, 2026, saying Tinubu had conceived the vision for the road about 27 years ago. The highway, estimated to cost '₦15 trillion' upon full funding, is one of the Tinubu administration’s legacy projects, with a section near completion, though the project has been mired in controversy since work began in March 2024.

The renaming highlights the administration’s effort to cement Tinubu’s legacy through major infrastructure, but it also revives debate over the project’s high cost, delays, and alleged contract irregularities that have drawn criticism from civil society groups and opposition lawmakers. For commuters and businesses along the Lagos‑Calabar corridor, the road’s completion could cut travel time and boost trade, provided the controversies do not stall progress further.

What do you think about naming major public works after serving presidents—does it honor vision or risk politicising national infrastructure?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/17/nigerian-govt-renames-lagos-calabar-coastal-highway/