The Federal Government has announced the renaming of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Tinubu, adding to a growing list of public facilities that have been renamed in his honor since he assumed office on May 29, 2023. Minister of Works David Umahi made the announcement on Thursday, July 16, stating that the 750-kilometre highway was named after Tinubu because the project was conceived during his tenure as governor of Lagos State approximately three years ago.
Complete List of Facilities Named After Tinubu Since 2023
The following public facilities have been renamed after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his inauguration:
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway (formerly Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway)
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, Niger State
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks, Abuja
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC), Abuja
- Bola Tinubu Polytechnic, Abuja
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, Abuja
- The National Assembly Library, renamed the Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu Building
- The International Conference Centre (ICC), now Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
The renaming of the coastal highway has sparked criticism from some Nigerians who view the practice as excessive. Eff called it "classic Nigerian political sycophancy at its finest: a governance style drowning in branding rituals and press releases while starving transparent metrics on budgets, timelines, or oversight, exposing a polity enslaved to ego at the ruthless expense of genuine accountability."
Paragon argued that the original name carries more weight: "The name, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, has more dignity, impact and unifying factors than the name, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Highway. You lots don't seem to get it at all. Y'all are just bent on self-gratification, whether the pipo are happy or not."
Olorunlogbon warned that such moves could harm Tinubu's image: "These guys will kill @officialABAT with sycophancy, not that they love him, but to protect their pot of soup. May God deliver President Tinubu from them, and save Nigeria from the buccaneers."
Lbgobo accused the minister of using the president as a cover for corruption: "They are just using this man as a cover for their looting. Sing on your mandate. Name a facility or building after him. Name a road after him. Do any kind of propaganda in his name. Lie to the public on his behalf. You are good to go; just carry on with the looting."
Earlier Renaming of Minna Airport Defended by Governor Bago
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago previously defended the renaming of Minna Airport after Tinubu, stating it was "to put a square peg in a square hole" and that the decision was a good one. This renaming occurred less than a year after the airport had been named after late literary icon Abubakar Imam.
