Sowore Vows to Reverse Public Assets Named After Tinubu if Elected President in 2027

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has pledged to reverse the naming of highways, public institutions and other national assets after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other public office holders if he is elected Nigeria’s president in the 2027 general election.

Sowore made the declaration in a statement shared on his Facebook page while reacting to the Federal Government’s recent decision to rename the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in honour of President Tinubu.

According to the former presidential candidate, a future administration under his leadership would review and reverse the naming of public infrastructure after political leaders whom he believes contributed to Nigeria’s economic challenges. He argued that national assets should not be used to celebrate public officials whose administrations, in his view, have failed to improve the country’s welfare.

His comments came shortly after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would officially be known as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Umahi explained that the decision was approved by the Ministry of Works after consultations with key officials. He said the highway was named after Tinubu in recognition of what he described as the president’s long-standing vision for the project, noting that the idea dated back to Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State more than two decades ago.

The minister stated that while many leaders may have ambitious ideas, it takes determination and effective leadership to bring such visions to reality. He credited President Tinubu with driving the implementation of the coastal highway project, describing it as a landmark infrastructure initiative.

Umahi also disclosed that President Tinubu had approved a 400-kilometre extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway, increasing its total length from 700 kilometres to 1,100 kilometres. In addition, he announced the reconstruction of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and several other major road projects aimed at improving the country’s transport network.

Sowore’s latest remarks are consistent with his broader campaign promises ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In recent weeks, he has proposed sweeping reforms across several sectors, including education and youth development.

Among his proposals is the abolition of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in its current form. He believes universities and other tertiary institutions should independently manage their admission processes through a transparent and merit-based system.

He has also advocated replacing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with a voluntary National Job Corps, a two-year programme focused on employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, vocational training and practical skills development for young Nigerians.

As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, Sowore’s latest pledge adds to the growing national conversation about governance, public policy and the use of national monuments and infrastructure to honour serving or former public officials. The proposal is likely to generate further debate among political stakeholders and the wider public as Nigeria prepares for another election cycle.