Donald Duke, presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has questioned the feasibility of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, suggesting it may not extend beyond Epe in Lagos State. Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television's Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Duke described the project as a misplaced priority given Nigeria's financial constraints. He argued that the country lacks the capacity to complete such an ambitious infrastructure project, particularly due to the challenging terrain along the coast.
Duke highlighted the swampy geography of states like Bayelsa, where the capital Yenagoa is situated, saying constructing the highway would require building 100 to 200 bridges. He noted that a road already exists between Lagos and Calabar, and urged the federal government to focus instead on rehabilitating the current route. He recalled driving along the existing corridor and observing land reclamation activities past Epe, implying the coastal project may serve other interests.
The former governor of Cross River State said funds allocated to the highway would be better spent on critical sectors like electricity and healthcare. He cited the health sector's capital budget of just N36 million released the previous year, calling it inadequate for a population of 230 million. Duke also criticised the underfunding of education, urging the government to recalibrate spending priorities to match economic realities.
Donald Duke's skepticism about the highway's extension beyond Epe exposes a tension between ambitious infrastructure plans and Nigeria's fiscal capacity. If the government proceeds with the coastal route despite financial and geographical hurdles, public funds may be diverted from essential services with more immediate impact on citizens. The feasibility of constructing hundreds of bridges through swampy regions remains a significant practical challenge.
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