The federal government has strongly rebuked former President Olusegun Obasanjo for criticizing the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a major infrastructure initiative under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The government’s response came after Obasanjo, in his book titled “Nigeria: Past and the Future”, described the 700-kilometer superhighway project as wasteful, corrupt, and a misplaced priority.
David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, responded to Obasanjo’s criticisms during an interactive session in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday. Umahi, while addressing concerns raised about the project, defended its importance and dismissed the allegations of corruption and mismanagement. He specifically urged Nigerians to ignore the former president’s remarks, asserting that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was not only necessary but also an essential part of the country’s development plans.
“This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of President Tinubu’s four legacy projects. For those saying it is a waste of resources, they should not use the road when it is completed,” Umahi stated, making it clear that the project was integral to the nation’s infrastructure development and economic progress.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is part of President Tinubu’s broader vision to modernize Nigeria’s infrastructure and boost economic activities, particularly in the southern and South-Eastern regions. The highway, which spans across several states, is expected to improve connectivity, ease transportation of goods and services, and foster economic growth in areas currently underserved by quality road infrastructure.
The project is part of a wider effort by the federal government to enhance transportation networks in Nigeria, reducing the burden on existing routes and encouraging investments across the country. It is expected to be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country once completed, with an estimated cost of N15.6 trillion.
Umahi’s defense of the project highlights the government’s confidence in its long-term benefits. He pointed out that Section One of the highway, covering 47.7 kilometers, was already 70 percent complete within one year of construction. The progress of this section, Umahi said, demonstrates the government’s commitment to completing the project on time and within budget.
In his book, Obasanjo argued that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project was a waste of resources, calling it “corrupt” and “misguided.” The former president questioned the project’s feasibility, criticizing the allocation of such a substantial amount of money to what he referred to as a questionable venture.
Responding to Obasanjo’s remarks, Umahi emphasized that the project was transparent and had involved extensive public consultations. He rejected any claims of corruption, insisting that the project was being managed responsibly and was not a financial burden on the country.
“If someone calls this project fraudulent, they are also calling me a fraud, and I am definitely not. This project has been very transparent, and we continue to engage stakeholders. Every step of the process is in the public domain,” Umahi added.
He also took a personal stance, addressing the criticisms directly. “The man (Obasanjo), by his age, deserves our respect, but it’s my duty as the Minister of Works to clarify that the project is not wasteful and not corrupt. I think anybody still criticizing the project is waking up to say, ‘How can one man be attributed to this kind of legacy?’ especially if you had the opportunity to contribute to this kind of investment and didn’t do so,” Umahi stated.
In a more pointed remark, the minister advised critics of the project to refrain from using the road once it is completed. “The truth remains that Section One of the Lagos-Calabar, which is 47.7 kilometers, is already about 70 percent completed within one year, and I will be asking those criticizing it not to follow the road. They should not follow the road,” he said, suggesting that the critics would benefit from the road but should refrain from benefiting from a project they opposed.
During the same event in Akure, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed strong support for the ongoing federal road projects in the state, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized the role of infrastructure in stimulating economic growth, asserting that the successful completion of these projects would lead to significant benefits for the people of Ondo and the broader South-West region.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also acknowledged President Tinubu’s efforts in bringing more federal projects to Ondo State, highlighting initiatives such as the ongoing dualization of the Ore-Ondo-Akure road, the construction of a federal teaching hospital, and the establishment of a new aviation school.
“We have not had it this good in recent times with federal projects in our state. Permit me to mention but a few: the Akure-Ore Dual Carriageway, the Akure-Ado Ekiti Dual Carriageway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure,” Aiyedatiwa said. He added that these projects are expected to create jobs, improve access to social services, and help accelerate economic development in Ondo State.
In addition to praising the federal government’s investments in the state, Governor Aiyedatiwa also appealed for more support for critical infrastructure projects such as the Ondo Deep Sea Port and efforts to mitigate the Ayetoro sea incursion, both of which are crucial to the state’s long-term economic strategy.
