Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has described the much-publicised Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a “scam”, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to deliver any meaningful infrastructure project since taking office.
Naijaonpoint reports that Lawal made the claim during an interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, which aired on Channels Television on Friday.
The former SGF, who served under the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, said he is yet to see any project by the current government that is impactful or visible to everyday Nigerians.
“If you ask me, ‘What projects has this government implemented so far that are visible to Nigerians and have impacted their lives?’ I cannot see any,” Lawal said.
“At least in northern Nigeria, where I am a frequent traveller, I don’t see any road that they are constructing or rehabilitating. In the South-West, I don’t think there is any.”
Lawal also took a swipe at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, stating that it has been repeatedly politicised by successive administrations without tangible results.
“They are still talking about the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which it appears every government talks about and votes money for, and it never goes anywhere,” he said.
He argued that Nigerians have become disillusioned with recurring promises, particularly those that never materialise into completed projects.
Lawal didn’t mince words when addressing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which President Tinubu flagged off in May.
Naijaonpoint reports that the first phase of the project spans 30 kilometres, beginning from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in Lekki, Lagos.
Lawal, however, said, “Their so-called coastal road is just a scam. Every Nigerian knows it is a scam. Even before they started, we knew it would be a scam, and it has become a scam.”
He described the project as a misplaced priority given the nation’s mounting public debt and questioned the rationale behind celebrating a partial commencement.
Speaking further, the former SGF criticised the government’s borrowing practices and the perceived lack of transparency in spending.
“You borrow money from Europe, and before it comes, it is spent over there. So, I don’t understand. What can Nigerians see?” Lawal queried.
“It has become such that the President can go and commission 30 kilometres of a 700km road, which has even become a source of controversy. So, what are they doing with our money?”
Naijaonpoint reports that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has faced criticism since its inception, with concerns raised over funding, environmental impact, displacement of businesses, and transparency of the procurement process.