Former presidential candidate Donald Duke has stated that the Nigerian government lacks the financial capacity to execute the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, predicting the project will likely fail to materialize. During an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, Duke urged the government to abandon what he characterizes as unnecessary expenditures.
Duke argues that existing transportation infrastructure between Lagos and Calabar is sufficient and simply requires repairs rather than a massive new project. He noted that during his own travels along the route, he witnessed activities focused on land reclamation rather than genuine road development. He questioned the fiscal prudence of the project, suggesting it ignores the nation’s current economic climate.
Instead of the highway, Duke proposed that public funds be redirected toward critical sectors such as healthcare and electricity. He highlighted that the previous year’s capital budget for health was a mere 36 million naira, a figure he described as abysmal for a population exceeding 230 million. He emphasized that the education sector also suffers from significant funding shortages that require immediate government intervention.
