President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of Nigeria’s Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, alongside the full reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, in what the Federal Government describes as a major boost to the country’s transport infrastructure programme.
Minister of Works David Umahi announced the approvals during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, saying the projects form part of the Tinubu administration’s strategy to strengthen regional connectivity, improve logistics, facilitate trade and accelerate economic development across Nigeria.
Fourth Legacy Highway Extended to About 1,100km
Umahi said President Tinubu approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway, increasing its total length from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
The expanded corridor will extend into Taraba State, creating stronger transport links between Nigeria’s North-Central and North-East regions.
Originally designed as a dual carriageway connecting Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu, the highway will now cover additional communities in Taraba, expanding its strategic economic and transport significance.
“The President approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy Road. That is unprecedented,” Umahi said.
The minister noted that the project is expected to improve interstate commerce, reduce travel times and enhance access to previously underserved areas.
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Be Rebuilt with Concrete Pavement
The Federal Government also approved the complete reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after sections of the highway began deteriorating less than five years after rehabilitation.
According to Umahi, the project will replace the existing asphalt surface with reinforced concrete pavement, which the Ministry of Works says offers a significantly longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs.
“The project is not up to five years old, yet it has already started failing,” Umahi said, explaining that previous repairs had not solved the recurring deterioration.
He added that reinforced concrete pavement could remain serviceable for between 50 and 100 years with minimal maintenance.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is Nigeria’s busiest highway, linking Lagos—the country’s commercial capital—with major industrial and economic centres across the southwest and northern regions.
New Bridges and East-West Road Expansion Approved
Beyond the highway projects, President Tinubu approved several additional transport infrastructure investments, including:
- Completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, originally awarded in 2018 and currently about 40% complete.
- Construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge across the Benue River.
- Dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road corridor stretching from Lokoja to Benin.
Umahi said the projects are expected to improve road safety, support freight movement and enhance regional economic integration.
Progress on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
The minister also provided an update on the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure projects.
According to Umahi:
- Section One (Victoria Island to Eleko Village, 47.47km) is progressing steadily and includes provision for a future railway line within its median.
- Section Two (Eleko Village to the Lagos-Ogun boundary) is approximately 60% complete and is expected to be substantially completed by November, with bridge construction continuing thereafter.
- Construction is also advancing across sections in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states.
Umahi said the project includes several large-span bridges designed to accommodate heavy industrial traffic, particularly around the Dangote Refinery corridor.
Sokoto-Badagry and Trans-Sahara Highways Advance
The minister said construction is also progressing on the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, a project intended to improve connectivity between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions.
Work is currently ongoing from the Ilela-Sokoto axis, Kebbi State and the Badagry end of the corridor.
Umahi added that ongoing construction on the Trans-Sahara Highway through Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi states will significantly reduce travel time between Nigeria’s South-East region and the Federal Capital Territory.
Infrastructure Drive Under Renewed Hope Agenda
The approvals form part of the Tinubu administration’s broader infrastructure strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nigeria’s four flagship Legacy Road projects include:
- Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (750km)
- Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway (1,068km)
- Trans-Sahara Highway
- Akwanga-Maiduguri (Fourth Legacy) Highway
The Federal Government has increasingly adopted reinforced concrete pavement technology for strategic highways, arguing that it offers greater durability, lower lifecycle costs and improved long-term value compared with conventional asphalt roads.
The latest approvals underscore Abuja’s continued focus on expanding transport infrastructure as part of efforts to improve logistics, stimulate investment, strengthen regional integration and support long-term economic growth.
