Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has publicly condemned the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, labeling it a “scam” and challenging the current administration’s record on infrastructure development.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, Lawal questioned the visibility and impact of President Bola Tinubu’s government projects on Nigerians.
Lawal stated, “If you ask me, ‘What projects has this government implemented so far that are visible to Nigerians and have impacted their lives?’ I cannot see any.” He further noted the absence of road construction or rehabilitation in key regions such as northern Nigeria and the South-West.
Highlighting the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lawal accused successive governments of politicizing the project without delivering results, saying, “They are still talking about the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which it appears every government talks about and votes money for, and it never goes anywhere.”
Regarding the coastal highway, Lawal was unequivocal: “Their so-called coastal road is just a scam. Every Nigerian knows it is a scam. Even before they started, we knew it would be a scam, and it has become a scam.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700-kilometre road, had its first phase flagged off by President Tinubu in May, covering a 30-kilometre stretch in Lagos. Lawal questioned the project’s relevance amid Nigeria’s rising debt, stating, “You borrow money from Europe, and before it comes, it is spent over there. So, I don’t understand. What can Nigerians see?”
He concluded by criticizing the partial commissioning, “It has become such that the President can go and commission 30 kilometres of a 700km road — which has even become a source of controversy. So, what are they doing with our money?”
Okay.ng reports that Lawal’s comments add to ongoing debates about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure projects.
