ABUJA, Nigeria - The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has criticised the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, arguing that Nigeria cannot afford the multibillion-naira infrastructure initiative in its current economic condition.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television's Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Duke questioned the necessity of the project and urged the Federal Government to focus on sectors such as electricity, healthcare and education.
According to the former Cross River State governor, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may not progress beyond Epe, Lagos State.
"Nigeria cannot afford the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. I don't think the road will go beyond Epe," Duke said.
He also raised concerns about the activities taking place along the corridor, claiming that much of what he observed during a recent trip involved land reclamation.
"There is already a road from Lagos to Calabar. I've driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it," he added.
Duke maintained that some government expenditures do not reflect the country's economic realities, insisting that the funds allocated to the coastal highway could be redirected to critical sectors that directly impact citizens' lives.
"The amount spent on that road could be better spent providing electricity or upgrading the healthcare system," he stated.
The PRP candidate lamented what he described as inadequate funding for healthcare and education, noting that the country's social infrastructure requires urgent investment.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over the economic viability and strategic importance of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which the Federal Government says will boost connectivity and economic development along Nigeria's coastline.
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