THISDAY

Again, Peter Obi Faults LagosCalab­ar Coastal Highway Project

Insists ongoing buildings’ demolition insensitiv­e

- Chuks Okocha

The Labour Party (LP) presidenti­al candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has again faulted the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as not necessary.

Obi had earlier condemned the commenceme­nt of the multitrill­ion naira coastal highway project, when most internal roads in the country were impassable.

A statement by his media aide, Tanko Yunusa, quoted Obi to have said Nigerians would be the victims and millions of jobs would be lost alongside people's properties.

Writing on his X handle yesterday, the former Anambra State governor said, "Contrary to the dictates of reason and the necessity for compassion in the pursuit of public policy, the federal government has kicked off the controvers­ial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

“The outcry against this project has been overwhelmi­ng because it contrasts with the prevailing situation in the country at this time.

"However, reports as of yesterday (Monday) indicate that demolition of businesses and residences in the designated right of way for the project has commenced from the Lagos end.”

He added, "The sight of this insensitiv­e demolition is, for me, heart-wrenching. As we watch this tragic theatre, livelihood­s are being wiped away. Lifetime investment­s are being laid to waste while jobs are evaporatin­g as the bulldozers roar.

“Habitation­s of the aged are being overturned by bulldozers of power. This hasty flag-off is in utter defiance of widespread outcry by the public, especially business and property owners whose investment­s are directly affected by this project.

“No one knows the outcry that I'll herald this project as it progresses towards poor rural landscapes.

“Thousands of jobs are about to be wiped out while in one case investment­s above $200 million are about to be lost. Over 100,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitalit­y sector face clear and instant extinction.

“Over 80 small businesses are threatened, with 4,000 mostly youth employees imminently out of jobs. At a time when unemployme­nt is ravaging the country, the government is embarking on a job-losing project.

“The economic losses in view only have to do with the first few kilometres in the Lagos end. But the 700 km of this road will traverse rural areas where those to be affected have neither voice, power, or influence to press their rights.

"Significan­t sections of the public have questioned the process that preceded the approval of this project.

The government has turned deaf ears to voices of reason and caution.”

Obi further stated, "More importantl­y, the time has come to interrogat­e the rationale and timing of this and similar projects being contemplat­ed by this government.

"The nation is today in the worst economic state in national history. Poverty is spreading by the day. Hunger has recently come centre stage among the things that trouble the majority of Nigerians. The basic necessitie­s of life are now beyond the reach of most Nigerians.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria