Peter Obi, Again, Speaks On Lagos-Calabar Super Highway

Peter Obi

OpenLife Nigeria reports that Peter Obi former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has , yet again, aired his opinion on the Lagos-Calabar super high way, being constructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a misplaced priority.

Over time, Obi had expressed reservations on the super highway on the grounds of neglects of existing roads in dilapidated form.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that the government is constructing the 700 kilometre Lagos-Calabar coastal highway at a total cost of N4bn per kilometre.

Information gathered indicates that government has released about N1.6 trillion as part payment for the construction of the road.

Peeved by this action, and writing on his X handle, Obi said, “Contrary to the dictates of reason and the necessity for compassion in the pursuit of public policy, the federal government has kicked off the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

“The outcry against this project has been overwhelming because it contrasts with the prevailing situation in the country at this time.

“However, reports on Monday indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.”

He added, “The sight of this insensitive demolition is, for me, heart-wrenching. As we watch this tragic theatre, livelihoods are being wiped away. Lifetime investments are being laid to waste while jobs are evaporating as the bulldozers roar.

“Habitations of the aged are being overturned by bulldozers of power. This hasty flag-off is in utter defiance of widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners whose investments are directly affected by this project.

“No one knows the outcry that I’ll herald this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.
“Thousands of jobs are about to be wiped out while in one case investments above $200 million are about to be lost. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector face clear and instant extinction.

“Over 80 small businesses are threatened, with 4,000 mostly youth employees imminently out of jobs. At a time when unemployment is ravaging the country, the government is embarking on a job-losing project.

“The economic losses in view only have to do with the first few kilometres in the Lagos end. But the 700 km of this road will traverse rural areas where those to be affected have neither voice, power, or influence to press their rights.

“Significant sections of the public have questioned the process that preceded the approval of this project. The government has turned deaf ears to voices of reason and caution.”

Obi further stated, “More importantly, the time has come to interrogate the rationale and timing of this and similar projects being contemplated by this government.

“The nation is today in the worst economic state in national history. Poverty is spreading by the day. Hunger has recently come centre stage among the things that trouble the majority of Nigerians. The basic necessities of life are now beyond the reach of most Nigerians.”

Emphasising that the coastal road project was inessential at this point, Obi stated, “This is one moment in national life when any responsible government cannot embark on fancy inessential projects.

“Therefore, we need to question the sense of priority of a government that is in a haste to embark on a mega white elephant project at a time of so many urgent and pressing national needs.

“Most of the existing highways are in desperate need of maintenance. Even the ones that are passable remain unsafe because of the scourge of insecurity.

“Travelers on our existing highways are frequently kidnapped and abducted by killer gangs and bandits. Many travellers on our highways are uncertain that they will reach their destinations alive, in safety, or in freedom.

“Our economy remains comatose as the exchange rate goes yo-yo by the day and our national debt balloons out of imagination.

“Our health institutions are ill-equipped and often unmanned. Worse still, why are we embarking on an expensive fancy new highway project when there are close to 50 abandoned and uncompleted federal highway projects all over the country?

“For the avoidance of doubt, the clear and urgent necessities of the nation today are urgent nationwide security of life and property, poverty eradication, sustainable and affordable healthcare for all, and affordable and functional education for the majority especially the poor and underprivileged.

“I would like to be placed on record as one citizen who raised his voice to vehemently oppose this government’s penchant to misplace our national priorities at a moment of national emergency of an existential nature.

“It is not too late to discontinue the Lagos-Calabar highway project. We can ill afford yet another expensive abandoned project.

“Above all, Nigeria’s urgent development needs are more real in areas that touch the lives of our citizens. We do not need escapades of landscape decoration,” Obi lamented.

However and just a day after, Peter Obi had reasons to express his reservations about the super highway, but this time from the perspective of loss of lives through road accidents due to the bad shape of Nigerian roads which deserve either immediate reconstruction or rehabilitations.

Writing on his X handle, Obi said:

I have just confirmed two very gory road accidents in Kogi and Enugu states respectively that claimed the lives of 35 persons.

“The Kogi incident happened on Sunday along Okene/Lokoja bye where 19 persons were roasted alive while the other occurred along Nsukka-Enugu Road in Enugu State on Tuesday claiming the lives of sixteen persons.

“The Enugu State Police Command and Kogi State Federal Road Service Corps, FRSC have confirmed the two accidents.

Even though the cause of the accidents is yet unknown, it must not be unconnected with the bad conditions of roads and insecurities.

This is why I continue to shout out that our meager resources should be channeled at priority areas of fixing our internal roads to make them passable before going for super highway projects, which will take the chunk of the resources meant for these essential areas, he lamented and advised.

My heart goes to the families of the deceased and the injured as I pray to God to give them the strength to bear the huge loss. My condolences also go to the governments and the people of Kogi and Enugu States.