Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has become one of the country’s most prominently commemorated leaders while still in office, with a growing number of major public infrastructure projects and government institutions now bearing his name.
The latest addition is the 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, which the Federal Government officially renamed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway. Minister of Works Dave Umahi said the decision recognizes Tinubu’s long-standing vision for the project, noting that the coastal road was first conceived during his tenure as governor of Lagos State nearly three decades ago.
The renaming has renewed public attention both within Nigeria and across Africa, as it adds to an expanding list of airports, highways, government buildings, military facilities, educational institutions and conference centres named after the president since he assumed office in May 2023.
Among the most notable is the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna, renamed by the Niger State Government in 2024. In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja’s Southern Parkway was redesignated Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, while the National Assembly named its newly completed library after the president.
Other major facilities include the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC) operated by the Nigeria Immigration Service, the newly established Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic in Abuja, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks in Asokoro, a military complex built to support personnel with modern residential and recreational facilities.
In June 2025, the renovated Abuja International Conference Centre was also renamed the Tinubu International Conference Centre, further expanding the list of federal landmarks carrying the president’s name.
The series of renaming decisions has generated widespread public debate, with supporters describing them as recognition of Tinubu’s leadership and infrastructure agenda, while critics argue that national monuments are traditionally named after leaders once they have completed their service in office.
As Nigeria continues investing in large-scale infrastructure, the naming of public assets after the sitting president is expected to remain a subject of political discussion and public interest across Africa.
