Coastal Super Highway Project Not A Priority Now – Obi

Presidential standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has taken a dig at the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project of the federal government.
He said the project is not a priority and the timing is wrong.

Obi therefore calls for the immediate review of the project and attention channeled at the deplorable internal road projects littered all over the country that would enhance economic growth.

The LP standard bearer who listed some of the abandoned road projects in the geopolitical zones of the country said that deliberate attention should be given to those projects that will enhance the living standards of the poor and help internal day-to-day production.

In his X handle yesterday, the former Anambra State governor said, “I have closely followed the comments and developments arising from the coastal superhighway project. While I am hesitant to engage in contentious debates about its benefits, which I acknowledge, and the pricing, which I have serious concerns about and believe should be thoroughly reviewed, I feel compelled to raise essential questions about the timing and prioritisation of such ventures.

“At the forefront of my concerns is the pressing issue of numerous uncompleted roads scattered across the country, many of which have become hazardous death traps and security risks. It‘s disheartening to witness the plight of innocent Nigerians who traverse these dilapidated roads under perilous conditions, vulnerable to kidnappers and other dangers.

“Most of these roads, vital for economic growth, regional connectivity, and overall development, have been under construction for several years and are unlikely to be completed shortly due to poor funding.”
Obi, in a statement by one of his media aides, Dr Yunusa Tanko, listed such projects in the North West as Abuja-Kaduna -Zaria-Kano Road -Sokoto -Funtua – Zaria Road, Kano – Hadejia Road, Kano – Katsina Road Zaria – Funtua – Shema – Tsafe – Gusau – Talata – Mafara – Sokoto Road Kano – Kwanar – Danja – Hadejia Road.

In the North East, the projects are Kano -Damaturu – Maiduguri Road – Mubi – Maiduguri Road, Nguru – Gashua – Bayamari Road, Gombe – Biu – Numan Road, Dikwa – Marte – Monguno Road, Potiskum – Fika – Bajoga – Gombe – Biu Road, Mayo Belwa – Jada – Ganye – Tongue Road, Tumu – Pindiga – Kashere – Yalo – Bashar – Wase – Wamba – Nasarawa Road.

Obi listed the uncompleted projects in the North Central to include; Abuja – Lokoja – Okene- Auchi – Benin Road, Ilorin – Jebba Road, Kabba – Omuaran Road, Suleja – Minna Road, Makurdi – Gboko – Yandev -Katsina-Ala Road, Buruku Bridge across Katsina River.
For the South West, the projects are Lagos – Badagry Road, Ibadan – Ife – Ilesha – Osogbo Road, Itoikin – Ijebu Ode – Ibadan Road, Ibadan – Ilorin – Jebba – Mokwa – Bokani Junction Road, Abeokuta – Ibadan Road, Ikorodu – Shagamu Road, Ado – Igede -Aramoko – Itawure Road, Ajasse Ipo – Offa – Erinle – Osun State Border Road.

Those in the South East are 9th Mile – Otukpo – Makurdi Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, Onitsha – Awka – Enugu Road, Onitsha – Owerri – Umuahia Road, Bende – Arochukwu – Ohafia Road, Okigwe – Afikpo Road, Nsukka – Obollo Afor Ehamafu -Nkalagu Road, Oba -Nnewi – Okija Road.
Obi named the ones in the South-South as the Benin – Sapele – Warri Road, East – West Road (Warri – Kaiama – Ahoada – Port Harcourt – Eket – Oron) Yenegwe Road Junction, Kolo – Otuoke Road, Sapele -Agbor – Ewu Road, Benin – Akure -Ore – Ife Road, Ikot Ekpene – Aba – Owerri Road, Jattau – Fugar – Agenebode Road, Bodo – Bonny Road with Bridge across Opobo Channel Port Harcourt-Onne Road, Agbor – Sakpoba – Ogharefe Road, Odukpani Junction – Itu – Ikot Ekpene – Umuahia Road.

He said the Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892.461 billion, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94.828 billion, alongside other expected contributions from sources such as the China-Exim Bank and the World Bank, will not be enough for serious work on all the critical roads, “some of which I enumerated above, let alone their completion. So why embark on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years? To do so will only exacerbate the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.”

According to him, „Prioritisation and fiscal discipline should be our critical guiding principles now. Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge prioritization of our existing uncompleted projects.

We must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure, crucial for the well-being and safety of our society, before embarking on new projects, no matter their perceived benefits. Let‘s prioritize the urgent needs of our people and ensure that our investments serve the collective good of the nation.

In any development formula, the primary focus should be on repairing existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years,” he said.