- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has, yesterday, told former Nigerian President , Olusegun Obasanjo, to avoid passing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway when completed.
Obasanjo’s criticism of the project as a wasteful and corrupt venture was strongly disapproved by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
The former President had, in one of the book launched in celebration of his 88th birthday labelled the N15 trillion project alongside the N21 billion projected for the construction of an official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, as misplaced priority.
“Typical examples of waste, corruption and misplaced priority are the mucky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on which the President had turned deaf ears to protests and the new Vice-President’s official residence built at a cost of N21bn in the time of economic hardship to showcase the administration hitting the ground running and to show the importance of the office of the Vice-President. What small minds!” Obasanjo wrote in the book titled ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’
Speaking at the unveiling of the 71st alignment section of the road in Akure, Ondo state capital, Umahi held that that the project was well thought-out and with its construction process done transparently.
The Minister urged Nigerians to dismiss Obasanjo’s remark on the over 700-kilometre highway as he held that those criticizing the project, including the former President, should not pass through it.
The project is not wasteful and corrupt. I have read on social media where people were saying that why is the government or the contractor not explaining, but as the Minister of Works, I am qualified to explain the project.
“It is natural and normal for people to criticise, but I’ve run the benefits of the project and the cost analysis. The jobs are already done about 70 per cent and the project will bring a lot of prosperity to the citizens. I’ll ask those criticising it not to follow the road.” Umahi said.
According to report, the alignment of the 71-kilometre section of the coastal highway which passed through Ondo was accepted by the residents of the state.
Umahi, who stated that the alignment unveiling was the final stage of the route approval.
He charged the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to issue a revocation order on the route in line with the laws of the land.
The minister, however , assured Ondo residents of President Bola Tinubu’s determination to complete all inherited projects and the legacy projects of his administration.