Tinubu Extends Fourth Legacy Highway By 400km To Taraba

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Thursday, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres.

He said the approval had increased the length of the strategic road corridor from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.

Umahi stated that Tinubu approved the extension of the project on Wednesday.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Umahi stated that the new extension would take the highway through Taraba State to create stronger links between the North-Central and North-East.

According to him, the route would pass through several historic communities and prominent towns before connecting to Taraba.

He explained that it would
pass through the towns of General Yakubu Gowon, the former Head of State;
late Solomon Lar, former Civilian Governor of Plateau State; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and others.

He said: “The greatest story is that yesterday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy Road. That is unprecedented.

“The Project will pass through the place of General Gowon. It will pass through the place of (late) 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.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that the Fourth Legacy Highway was designed as a dual carriageway linking Akwanga in Nasarawa State with Maiduguri in Borno State through Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu.

The minister also disclosed that the president had 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.

According to him, the latest approvals further demonstrate Tinubu’s commitment to delivering legacy infrastructure projects across all geopolitical zones.

Umahi also announced presidential approval for the complete reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after sections of the road began deteriorating less than five years after rehabilitation.

He said the decision vindicated his ministry’s insistence on using reinforced concrete pavement instead of asphalt for major highways.

“The president yesterday approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Road, and that is the justification for our fight for the use of reinforced concrete pavement”, he said.

Umahi explained that the existing asphalt pavement had repeatedly failed despite maintenance works.

“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”, the Minister said.

Umahi further disclosed that Tinubu had approved the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge project in Taraba State.

He explained that the bridge, awarded in 2018, had reached about 40 per cent completion before work stopped.

“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.

The minister also announced the approval for the construction of the Lau Bridge across the Benue River.

He said: “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.”

The minister said the president has equally approved the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road corridor.

He said: “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.”

According to Umahi, the project would improve safety, facilitate trade and reduce travel time along one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors.

In another major announcement, Umahi disclosed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would henceforth be known as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.