Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the Lagos-Calabar Highway project initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a wasteful and corrupt endeavor.
Obasanjo, in chapter six of his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, condemned the N15.6 trillion project, arguing that it reflects the broader issue of financial mismanagement in governance.
He also labeled the construction of the Vice President’s official residence, reportedly costing N21 billion, as another example of extravagant government spending.
“Everything is said to be transactional, and the slogan is ‘It is my turn to chop.’ Typical examples of waste, corruption, and misplaced priorities are the murky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, on which the President had turned a deaf ear 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.
The Lagos-Calabar Highway and the construction of the new Vice President’s residence have sparked widespread debate among Nigerians.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has also called for the suspension of the highway project, citing concerns over its cost and implementation.
Despite the criticism, the Tinubu administration has repeatedly defended the projects. Minister of Works Dave Umahi has maintained that the highway is essential for national development. He recently announced that 30 kilometers of the 70-kilometer first phase would be completed by May 2025.
The Lagos-Calabar Highway project, launched in March 2024, remains a subject of intense public scrutiny, with critics questioning its feasibility and timing amid economic challenges.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, has yet to respond to Obasanjo’s remarks.