The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has urged critics of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, including the former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, to move beyond opposition and offer practical alternatives that would improve the project, insisting that constructive criticism is vital to national development.
Abuja Times recalls that Duke had recently stated that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may not go beyond Epe.
Speaking during an inspection of Section 4B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Ondo State, Umahi said the government welcomes meaningful contributions but cautioned against condemning strategic infrastructure projects without proposing workable solutions.
He stressed that criticism should be aimed at strengthening projects rather than frustrating efforts to deliver infrastructure that would benefit Nigerians.
Umahi also reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to completing the coastal highway, expressing confidence that the landmark project would be delivered as planned.
The Minister defended the alignment of the road, explaining that adjustments were made solely on engineering and economic considerations to avoid deep soil deposits and major ocean crossings that would have significantly increased construction costs.
Umahi commended HITECH Construction Company for the quality of work on the project and its cordial relationship with host communities, describing the firm as a reliable partner in executing one of Nigeria’s most ambitious road infrastructure projects.
Earlier, the Minister noted that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is already generating employment, boosting security and creating new opportunities for trade, agriculture and education along its corridor.
The highway, a flagship project under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to improve regional connectivity, stimulate economic growth and enhance transportation along Nigeria’s coastline.
