Seeing himself as a politician to be taken seriously, Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, declared that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway may not be completed in the next 30 years. According to him, the superhighway is not a priority. He prefers that funds be allocated for the upgrade of other roads rather than start a new one.
“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.
“Most of these roads, vital for economic growth, regional connectivity, and overall development have been under construction for several years if not decades now and are unlikely to be completed any time soon due to poor and unplanned funding”, Obi wrote.
If Obi had built anything substantial during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, I would have taken him seriously. Unfortunately, he didn’t, thus not in a position to know which infrastructure project is vital for economic prosperity. After all, he once opined that physical infrastructure is not important, rather government should focus on social infrastructure like the building of schools and hospitals. Unfortunately for him, he has (now) admitted being abysmal in that regard. He did not build any school during his governorship after a former presidential media aide challenged him to show proof!
There is another one. They call him Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. His penchant for playing to the gallery is well documented. He appears to drink from the same well as his master – Obi!
The other day, the young man took journalists with him to Landmark, a popular leisure centre in Oniru by Victoria Island. The popular hangout spot overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The defeated governorship candidate of the Labour Party is trying to appear as an opposition figure. But his attempt is like a broiler whose two legs are broken.
This has been the tenure of some folks who arrogate to themselves the shameful toga of opposing anything in government does. Their obstinacy stems from lack of awareness, ignorance, and mischief. For someone who has not worked before, Rhodes-Vivour’s penchant for “notice me” is dreadful. The less that is said about this man, the better for the sanity of the Lagos polity.
Since the federal government together with Hitech Construction agreed to proceed with the 700km 10-lane coastal superhighway, all manner of pretenders have swarmed the public space. Even groundnut sellers have become engineering geniuses sticking out their fingers in a failed attempt to showcase their non-existent expertise.
They have turned a revolutionary project first conceived by the Goodluck Jonathan administration into their own circus. Doing everything to minimise its strategic importance.
Also, attempts are being made to reduce the superhighway spanning 700km passing swamps, rivers, lagoons, creeks, forests, hills and all manner of topographies to ethnic-political baiting by those adept at it. Rather than focus on the project, they try to market the distortion that will naturally happen when the highway breezes past the entertainment centre earlier referenced – Landmark!
Here are some of the benefits of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway:
- The road project is a major contributor to the economy: The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to increase the size of the Lagos State economy by 50 per cent because of its connection to the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Lekki free zone corridor.
- Job creation: The highway project is expected to create employment opportunities for people living in the areas it passes through and for construction workers and suppliers.
- Promotion of tourism: The highway will make it easier for tourists to visit the unique tourism sites along the Lagos-Calabar coastal route including beaches and resorts.
- Accessibility to essential services: The highway will enhance accessibility to essential services such as healthcare, education and emergency response, thereby improving the quality of life for residents of the coastal areas.
- Environmental sustainability: The highway project is expected to promote environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-tourism.
- Social cohesion: The highway project is expected to promote social cohesion by connecting communities and promoting social interact
- Reduced travel time: The highway will reduce the travel time between Lagos and Calabar, making it easier for people to travel and transport goods.
- Increased trade: The highway will increase trade between the coastal states and other parts of the country, promoting economic growth and development.
- Improved transportation infrastructure: The highway will improve the transportation infrastructure in the coastal areas, making it easier for people and goods to move around.
- Enhanced regional integration: The highway will enhance regional integration by connecting the coastal states and promoting economic and social interaction.
As a resident of Lagos State, the people and government cannot look away from a project that is going to impact its economy in such a revolutionary manner – raising GDP by 50 per cent. The new highway will set out from the Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island which is another engineering genius birthed by the same company that is building this highway. So, they have expertise in shoreline reclamation technology.
The highway will connect the Lekki Free Zone where multiples of industries including the popular Dangote refinery are located. There is also the upcoming Lagos State owned airport which will lie a few kilometres from the highway.
It will provide another real alternative to the overused Lekki-Epe expressway which for now is the singular highway leading into the Lekki general area. This is a huge addition to the better living standard of the residents of the entire area which has grown astronomically in the past two decades.
As the government begins demolition of properties infringing on the right of way this week, here is hoping that less politics or ethnic-coloured rhetoric promoted. In the first place, according to our laws, the federal government owns any land from the tip of the ocean to 250metres into land. It is the law. It is a good thing that the government has not taken a hard stand over the matter by agreeing to pay compensation where necessary and adjusting the road design to fit into existing built-up areas.
Lagos State must ignore the political and ethnic exponents, collaborate fully with the federal government. They must take full advantage of this project and help in ensuring its execution. It is in the state’s best interest and the overall best interest of the economic development of the country.
