Politics
FG Reacts As Donald Duke Says Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Unrealistic …Won’t Go Beyond Epe
Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, has criticised the President Bola Tinubu administration’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as a misplaced priority that Nigeria cannot afford amid the country’s economic challenges, even as the Presidency has described Duke’s comment as politically motivated and at variance with the reality on the ground.
Duke argued that rather than embarking on the multi-billion-naira coastal road project, the Federal Government should channel resources into critical sectors such as electricity, healthcare and education.
Speaking during an interview by Sahara Reporters, the former governor questioned both the economic viability and engineering feasibility of constructing the 750-kilometre highway along Nigeria’s coastline.
“I’ll bring this up. Take the Lagos-Calabar highway. I know the country cannot afford it,” Duke said.
“You cannot build a road on the coast from Lagos to Calabar. I mean, you can’t even go through Bayelsa. Bayelsa is swamp. Even Yenagoa, the capital, is swamp. You’ll probably have to build about 100 or 200 bridges to go through those swamps.”
The former governor also dismissed the necessity of the project, insisting that an existing road already links Lagos and Calabar and should simply be rehabilitated.
“There is already a road to Calabar. I’ve driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it,” he said.
Duke further claimed that he doubted the highway would be completed beyond Epe in Lagos State, alleging that land reclamation appeared to be a more significant feature of the project than road construction.
“I don’t think that road is going to go beyond Epe, and I think the road serves other purposes because I drove once on the road and all I saw on the right flank going towards Epe was land reclamation and all that,” he said.
He maintained that the enormous financial commitment required for the coastal highway would be better invested in sectors that directly improve Nigerians’ standard of living.
“The amount going to be spent on that road could be better spent providing electricity or upgrading your healthcare system,” Duke said.
Citing what he described as poor government spending on healthcare, he added, “Last year, the capital budget that was released for health was barely N36 million. This came from the minister himself. That’s pathetic for a country of 230 million people.”
He also lamented inadequate funding for education, urging the government to rethink its spending priorities.
“Not to talk about the schooling system that is hardly funded. So you prioritise, focus on your priorities, recalibrate your revenue system,” he said.
According to Duke, Nigeria possesses abundant energy resources capable of driving economic growth if properly harnessed.
“We are blessed with all the known forms of energy, from hydro to solar to gas to petroleum,” he said.
“I’m not saying give it free of charge, no, but make it available and very affordable because that is going to be a major stimulus for the productivity of your people.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway remains one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration. While the Federal Government has defended the project as a transformative economic corridor that will enhance connectivity, tourism and regional development, it has continued to attract criticism from opposition figures, economists, civil society groups and environmental advocates over its cost, transparency, environmental impact and prioritisation amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has dismissed the claims by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would not extend beyond Lagos State, insisting that construction has already progressed into neighbouring states.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, described Duke’s remarks as politically motivated and at variance with the reality on the ground.
In a post on X, Ajayi said construction on the flagship highway has already reached Ogun State, while work is simultaneously ongoing on sections of the project in Ondo and Akwa Ibom states.
According to him, political considerations often compel public figures to make claims they neither believe nor can substantiate.
“Former Governor Donald Duke, who wants to become President on the banner of an unviable political platform, has also joined the chorus of those saying the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will not go beyond Lagos State.
“I think politics makes a lot of people say loads of what they don’t mean or believe in. They just talk for the sake of talking or because of bad politics. There is actually no sense in arguing against reality.
Politics
APM Faults FG’s Subsidy Saving Report, Claims Its N27trn Not N15.8trn
The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) has dismissed the Tinubu-led APC administration’s report on the spending of over N27 trillion realized from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, describing it as a litany of lies, inconsistencies and false claims ostensibly to hoodwink Nigerians and divert public attention from the massive looting of the funds under the APC administration.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the APM, Yusuf Abubakar, the party said, ‘For a start, the APM rejects the claim by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele that only N15.8 trillion was realized as subsidy removal saving. Perhaps he forgot that his predecessor in office, Wale Edun told Nigerians in November 2024 that the nation had saved an estimated $20 billion, (N26.9 trillion) from subsidy removal.
“The disparity in these figures further validates allegations of looting and raises serious questions on the overall integrity of the report including its spending claims. The Tinubu administration must come clean on the exact amount currently saved especially given that more savings have been garnered between November 2024 and 2026.”
On the issue of the spending of the fund, the APM and Nigerians are not fooled by APC’s illusory pattern of bandying and muddling up figures with wholesale claims without details, just to confuse the unsuspecting public.
The APM spokesman, “The vague claim that out of the now belied N15.8 trillion, the Federal Government received only N5.4 trillion, while N10.4 trillion was shared among states and local governments across the country remain unsubstantiated.
“Instead of resorting to blanket claim, we demand that the Federal Government should provide a detailed breakdown of the funds shared to each state and local government, the dates of disbursement and the specific purposes for which the money was deployed. The diversionary attempt to shift the question to states and local government does not help the Tinubu administration”, Yusuf stated
Also, he said, ”our party holds as callous, the attempt by the APC to heap the burden of corruption on innocent civil servants and students by claiming that N9.39 trillion out of the total incremental resources from subsidy savings, independent revenue and borrowings during the period went into payment of workers’ wages and students’ loans.
“This comes to us as an attempt by the APC to pitch Nigerians against the innocent civil servants and students who are actually victims of the corruption of the APC. This vague claim is capable of triggering further increase in the cost of living and make life more unbearable for Nigerians.”
According to Yusuf, “The APM also finds the claims by the Federal Government that its reforms have benefited Nigerians even in the face of the excruciating hardship in the country where more than 140 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line with staggering 63% poverty rate, frightening 33.3% unemployment rate and estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit as the height of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s insensitivity to the plight of the citizens”
The APM however urged Nigerians not to despair but continue to rally with the party and presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde as “we use the 2027 election to end the APC misrule and enthrone a truthful, transparent and trustworthy leadership that will reposition our nation and return her to the path of peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity.”
News
Governor’s Visit To Tinubu Was Courtesy, Not APC Overture – Adeleke Camp
The Imole Campaign Council has dismissed speculation that Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, is planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a customary courtesy visit following the conclusion of the state’s governorship election.
The council said the meeting between Adeleke and Tinubu was focused on the peace, security and development of Osun State, insisting that the issue of the governor joining the ruling APC did not arise during the visit.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, Rep. Bamidele Salam, the council said Adeleke’s visit was in keeping with the political tradition associated with off-cycle elections.
“The Imole Campaign Council wishes to state that the visit by Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday is in line with customs and political tradition at the conclusion of off cycle elections in Nigeria,” Salam said.
According to the council, Adeleke, having emerged victorious in an off-cycle election, had a responsibility to show respect and appreciation to the President, particularly given Tinubu’s pre-election statements urging the electoral umpire and security agencies to ensure a free and fair election in Osun State.
The council said the meeting also provided an opportunity for the President and the governor to discuss issues relating to peace, security and the development of Osun State following a closely contested and politically charged election.
The clarification came amid speculation in political circles that Adeleke’s visit to the President could signal a possible move to the ruling party, a development that would have significant implications for the political landscape in Osun ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Imole Campaign Council, however, rejected the speculation, insisting that the governor’s visit had no connection with any plan to join the APC.
The Council expressed appreciation to Tinubu for granting the governor and members of his team an audience, while assuring Adeleke’s supporters of his continued commitment to governing the state, while urging
Its supporters to disregard reports suggesting that the governor’s visit was connected to an impending defection, maintaining that the engagement was undertaken in the interest of peace, stability and the development of Osun State.
Politics
Ojudu Tackles Co-APC Members Over Abandoned Project Comment Attack.
An All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain, Babafemi Ojudu, has responded to recent criticism from party members over his comment on the alleged abandonment of construction work on the Akure–Ado-Ekiti road.
Ojudu, a former presidential media aide, had drawn the attention of the government to the state of the road, which he said leads to the city where he lives.
However, his post reportedly attracted backlash from some members of the ruling party, who viewed Ojudu’s comments as an attack on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Reacting to the criticism in another Facebook post, Ojudu questioned why he was being attacked for drawing attention to an abandoned public project.
He argued that demanding accountability from the government is a citizen’s right and should not be interpreted as disloyalty to a political party.
“What manner of citizens are we becoming? Does belonging to a political party require surrendering one’s conscience, citizenship and right to demand accountability? Must party loyalty mean applauding everything and questioning nothing?” he asked.
Ojudu said drawing attention to abandoned public infrastructure that affects citizens and communities should be regarded as a patriotic responsibility.
“My membership of the APC does not deprive me of my rights and responsibilities as a Nigerian. I can commend the government when it performs well and question it when something appears to have gone wrong.
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