A member of the Eighth Senate, Ben Murray-Bruce, stated that those who oppose the 700Km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway should not use the road once it is finished, suggesting that they stick to the old routes instead.
“It is surprising that some disgruntled people are against this project. I would suggest that such enemies of progress should not use the road when it is completed and stick to the old long treacherous routes,” Bruce said in a video he shared on his X page on Sunday
The N13-trillion highway is considered Nigeria's largest public infrastructure and will connect nine states. The construction is expected to take eight years.
Murray-Bruce, founder of the Silverbird Group, expressed his support for the project and commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating it, referring to it as a “symbol of a brighter future”.
He mentioned that Tinubu’s commitment to the project is a “beacon for our nation,” adding that the highway is not just a “feat of engineering” but a triumph of the collective potential of all citizens.
The Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Edo, and Delta states have previously praised the President for beginning the construction of the coastal highway project.
Minister for Works, David Umahi, announced that the FG would start the payment of N2.75 billion in compensation to property owners affected by the demolition required for the construction of the highway.
Since the construction started, many, especially political opponents of President Bola Tinubu, have dismissed the project as unnecessary, particularly during a severe economic crisis.
For example, the Peoples Democratic Party 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, criticized the bidding process that awarded the construction to Hitech Construction Company, stating that it violated procurement regulations.
His Labour Party’s counterpart, Peter Obi, also rebuked the government for undertaking such a project when many roads in bad shape are left unattended to.
Despite the criticism, the Federal Government has stated that construction works will continue.
