Infrastructure: Government lambasts Obasanjo and others, urges them to avoid Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway when completed

*The Federal Government of Nigeria lambasts former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and others, including his erstwhile Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, criticising the iconic Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, among other projects of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating the critics have a choice to not pass through the highways when completed

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to his latest carefree criticisms of the current administration’s infrastructure projects, the Federal Government of Nigeria has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and others, including Alhaji Atiku Ababakar, his former Vice-President, criticising the iconic Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, among other projects of President Bola Tinubu not to pass through the highways when completed.

Ex-President Obasanjo has described the road project as wasteful and corrupt.

H. E. (Senator) David Umahi, Honourable Minister for Works, stated this during his recent working visit to Ondo State for a 2nd interactive session on the Ondo State axis of the 71km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

Ex-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (r), and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during the latter’s recent visit to the former, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital 

The meeting, which held in the Government House, Akure, Ondo State capital, was a follow-up to the first stakeholders’ meeting on the project, held October 31, 2024.

Responding to former President Obasanjo’s criticism of the current government’s efforts at upgrading the road infrastructure, the Federal Government rather restated that the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is not wasteful and corrupt.

The Minister took a swipe at Obasanjo for allegedly downplaying the importance of Tinubu’s infrastructure projects.

Obasanjo also slammed Tinubu’s administration for spending N21 billion on a new official residence for Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Obasanjo, a former Military Head of State and two-term civilian President of the the West African country, also described the building project as a misplaced priority and conduit designed to embezzle public funds.

Umahi, therefore, urged Nigerians to ignore Obasanjo’s negative  comments on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Minister: Obasanjo and company jealous of Tinubu’s iconic road infrastructure

Senator Umahi specifically, asked those criticising the road project, and other legacy projects of President Tinubu’s administration to not pass through the said roads when they are completed.

Umahi as well insisted that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is not wasteful and corrupt. The project is transparent, and some people have a right to be jealous and angry over the iconic road infrastructure.

In respect of Obasanjo’s latest criticism of the Federal Government’s projects, Umahi further said: “The man (Obasanjo) deserves our respect. I have not read the book but the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not wasteful and corrupt.

“Anybody criticising the project is waking up to say how can one man (Tinubu) be attributed to these types of projects.”

Earlier, the Minister had said the alignment unveiling was the final stage of the route approval.

He equally reminded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State to issue revocation order on the route in line with the laws of the land.

He disclosed the alignment has reduced the route from 75km to 71km.

Umahi, therefore, assured Ondo residents of Tinubu’s commitment to completing all inherited projects and the four legacy projects of his administration.

According to him, all the Senatorial zones of the country are covered by the four legacy projects of the current administration.

Earlier, Aiyedatiwa had reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the successful completion of federal road projects in the state, emphasising the crucial role of infrastructure in driving economic growth and development.

Aiyedatiwa applauded President Tinubu for the increase in Federal presence in Ondo State through several infrastructure projects.

According to him, these include the ongoing Ore-Ondo-Akure dualisation project, the Federal Teaching Hospital, and new aviation school, among others.

Governor Aiyedatiwa asserted: “We have not had it so 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.”

The governor also emphasised the strategic importance of completing these projects, noting their potential to boost economic activities in the state and the South-West region of Nigeria.

OBJ’s memoir and his leadership integrity

In a related development, the Presidency lambasted Obasanjo for his recent criticisms of the government projects.

Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, accused Obasanjo of attempting to rewrite history while neglecting his own failures as the President while in office.

Dada, through his verified post on X @DOlusegun, also noted the ex-President’s claims contained in the memoir would “further relegate his integrity as the leader, who opened Nigeria to the cankerworms of corruption.”

The Presidential aide wrote: “By underplaying the importance of the Lagos-Calabar project in his latest book, (ex-) President OBJ has not only affirmed to those who witnessed his administration’s several failures to address the needs of the country when he had the opportunity, but he has also put in written form a position which generations to come will indeed question.”

Dada further accused Obasanjo of failing to deliver on key infrastructure projects during his eight-year tenure, particularly the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway in his home state of Ogun.

According to Olusegun, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, one of Nigeria’s most crucial road projects, stagnated for 16 years under Obasanjo and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), until former President Muhammadu Buhari revived it.

He stated: “Despite spending eight years in government and failing in his attempt to force himself on Nigerians for a further four years as President, Baba Obasanjo failed woefully in addressing the infrastructural needs of his state.

“Indeed, it took former President Buhari just three years to deliver the first modern rail to pass through Baba’s backyard in Abeokuta.”

Olusegun further accused Obasanjo of mishandling Nigeria’s power sector, failing to revive the nation’s refineries, and overseeing a fraudulent privatisation of NITEL.

According to him, Tinubu is now making the tough decisions that past leaders, including Obasanjo, failed to take to set things right.

He averred: “President Tinubu will not be deterred by distractions such as these.”

Nigerians, who prioritise development will remain focused on the administration’s progress.

According to Dada, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a key project under Tinubu’s administration, is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s economy and improve connectivity along the country’s coastline.

Alongside other major road projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway and the Lagos-Abuja Highway, he said it represents a bold infrastructure push by the current government.

Olusegun suggested that instead of attempting to diminish Tinubu’s achievements, Obasanjo should reflect on his own legacy.

“President Obasanjo must emulate others before him by returning to his writing board to at least attempt to explain to Nigerians why he failed to help Nigeria transition into a proper country under his leadership,” added the Presidential aide.

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