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.