Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has strongly criticized the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, labeling it as wasteful and riddled with corruption. He also condemned the Bola Tinubu administration for approving N21 billion for a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, calling it a misplaced priority.
Obasanjo expressed these views in his new book, *Nigeria: Past and Future*, where he scrutinized the leadership of federal and state executives. The book was one of two publications launched in celebration of his 88th birthday last week.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700km project, is estimated to cost N4.93 billion per kilometer. Minister of Works David Umahi defended the project, stating that it was awarded on a counterpart-funding basis rather than through a Public-Private Partnership.
So far, N1.06 trillion has been allocated for the pilot phase, which covers six percent of the project, beginning at Eko Atlantic and extending to Lekki Deep Sea Port. However, critics have raised concerns over the lack of a competitive bidding process in awarding the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company.
Prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have questioned the transparency of the deal, fueling a broader debate over the government’s spending priorities amid economic challenges.
