President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, increasing the strategic road corridor from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who announced the approvals on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, also disclosed that the President authorised 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 a major boost to the Federal Government’s infrastructure renewal programme, saying they would strengthen national integration, improve regional connectivity and stimulate economic growth.
According to him, the latest projects reflect Tinubu’s commitment to delivering legacy infrastructure across the country.
“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 extension would pass through Taraba State, creating stronger links between the North Central and North East regions.
According to the minister, the expanded highway will traverse several historic communities before terminating in 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 added.
The Fourth Legacy Highway was originally designed as a dual carriageway connecting Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Maiduguri in Borno State through Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu. The latest approval extends the corridor further into Taraba State.
Umahi also revealed that Tinubu approved 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 validates the ministry’s preference for reinforced concrete pavement over asphalt 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.
Explaining the rationale behind the project, Umahi noted that the existing asphalt pavement had repeatedly failed despite maintenance interventions.
“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.
He said the reconstructed highway would be built with reinforced concrete pavement expected to last between 50 and 100 years with minimal maintenance.
“The answer is to reconstruct it using reinforced concrete pavement that will last between 50 and 100 years, maintenance free,” Umahi added.
The minister further announced that the President approved the completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge project in Taraba State.
According to him, the bridge, which was awarded in 2018, had reached about 40 per cent completion before work was abandoned.
“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 said.
Umahi also disclosed that Tinubu approved the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge across the Benue River, as well as the dualisation of an additional 400 kilometres of the East-West Road as part of efforts to improve transport infrastructure nationwide.
