Coastal super highway, another white elephant project — Obi (2024)

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has described the controversial super highway project as a misplaced priority by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration

Obi said the coastal highway was a white elephant project that could not be completed within the life of this administration, even if it secured a second tenure.

According to him, there are multiple intra- and inter-state roads waiting for attention, which could revamp economic activities and swell production output when completed.

Obi, who listed the roads in his verified X account, said while the project is important, it’s time of priority was misplaced.

His words: “I have closely followed the comments and developments arising from the coastal superhighway project.

“While I’m 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 now and are unlikely to be completed shortly due to poor funding.

He said some of these roads in various zones include: “North-West Abuja—Kaduna—Zaria—Kano Road—Sokoto—Funtua—Zaria Road Kano-Hadejia Road Kano-Katsina Road Zaria, Funtua, Shema, Tsafe, Gusau, Talata, Mafara and Sokoto Road Kano, Kwanar, Danja and Hadejia Road

For the North-east, he listed “Kano, Damaturu, Maiduguri Road, Mubi, Maiduguri Road Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Gombe-Biu-Numan Road Dikwa, Marte and Monguno Road Potiskum-Fika-Bajoga-Gombe-Biu Road Mayo Belwa, Jada, Ganye and Tongue Road Tumu, Pindiga, Kashere, Yalo, Bashar, Wase, Wamba and Nassarawa Road

The Labour Party Presidential continued that in the North-Central 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 Obi listed, “Lagos-Badagry Road Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha-Osogbo Road Itoikin – Ijebu Ode-Ibadan Road Ibadan-Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Junction Road Abeokuta-Ibadan Road Ikorodu-Sagamu Road Ado-Igede-Aramoko-Itawure Road Ajasse Ipo-Offa-Erinle-Osun State Border Road”

Identifying intrastate roads that could have an impact on the economy in the South-east, the former Anambra state governor listed “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

He said for the South-South critical roads requiring federal government intervention for economic development are “Benin, Sapele, Warri Road East-West Road (Warri, Kaiama, Ahoada, Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron) Yenegwe Road Junction, Kolo and Otuoke Road Sapele-Agbor-Ewu Road Benin, Akure, Ore and Ife Road Ikot Ekpene, Aba, Owerri Road, Jattau, Fugar and Agenebode Road Bodo-Bonny Road with Bridge across Opobo Channel-Port Harcourt, Onne Road, Agbor, Sakpoba and Ogharefe Road Odukpani Junction, Itu, Ikot Ekpene and Umuahia Road.”

He said the reality of funding sources placed the coastal highway project in jeopardy as “The Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94,828,535,243.00, alongside other expected contributions from sources like 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,” He queried

He further said, “Prioritisation and fiscal discipline should be our critical guiding principles now. Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge the prioritisation 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 prioritise 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,x the Presidential candidate said on his X account.

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