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Donald Duke Criticises Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Says Nigeria Cannot Afford It
Former Cross River State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful, Donald Duke, has criticised the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as a costly misplaced priority that Nigeria cannot afford under its current economic conditions.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Duke questioned the project’s economic viability, engineering feasibility and place among the country’s most urgent infrastructure needs.
“I know the country cannot afford it,” Duke said, questioning the logic of constructing a major highway along Nigeria’s coastal belt from Lagos to Calabar.
According to him, the terrain would make the project extremely expensive and technically challenging.
“You cannot build a road on the coast from Lagos to Calabar,” he said. “You’ll probably have to build about 100 or 200 bridges to go through those swamps.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s major infrastructure projects and is intended to link coastal states while supporting trade, tourism, investment and economic activity.
However, Duke argued that the resources being committed to the project could deliver greater value if directed towards electricity, healthcare and education.
He said Nigeria already had road networks connecting the southern corridor to Calabar and suggested that government should prioritise repairing and upgrading existing infrastructure if improved connectivity was the main objective.
“There’s some expenditure we make that does not reflect the realities of our circumstance,” Duke said. “You’ve got to prioritise. Focus on what is required. The amount going to be spent on that, we’d better spend providing electricity, we’d better spend upgrading your healthcare system.”
Duke’s comments come amid broader debate over public spending at a time of high inflation, rising debt pressures, weak purchasing power and deteriorating social infrastructure.
He argued that Nigeria’s challenge was not simply a shortage of projects but the failure to properly prioritise them.
According to him, a country facing significant deficits in power, healthcare, education, security and productivity should be cautious about committing huge resources to large-scale infrastructure projects while basic services remain under pressure.
Duke identified electricity as a key driver of productivity, urging the government to make gas, hydro, solar and other energy sources more widely available and affordable.
He argued that improving power supply would have a more immediate impact on businesses, employment and household welfare than a coastal highway whose economic returns, in his view, remain uncertain.
The former governor also criticised the current economic environment, citing high interest rates as a major obstacle to businesses seeking to borrow, expand and create jobs.
He said Nigeria’s economy had failed to grow in line with its population, which is now estimated at more than 230 million, and warned that the country’s governance and economic policies were not adequately addressing demographic pressures.
Reflecting on his tenure as Cross River State governor from 1999 to 2007, Duke said his administration focused on initiatives designed to stimulate economic activity and position Calabar as a tourism and cultural destination.
His administration was associated with initiatives including the Calabar Carnival and the development and promotion of Obudu Mountain Ranch, alongside investments in infrastructure and tourism.
Duke said the projects were based on what he considered the state’s comparative advantages and the need to generate economic activity through tourism, hospitality and culture.
He argued that Nigeria now needed similar clarity at the national level, with government spending aligned with the country’s economic realities.
Duke is returning to frontline politics as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said his return to politics was motivated by what he described as the urgency of Nigeria’s economic, security and governance challenges, which he attributed to poor leadership and a stagnant economy.
On security, Duke advocated a more localised approach, arguing that security, like healthcare and education, is more effective when it is delivered closer to the people.
He expressed support for state police but said greater emphasis should be placed on intelligence gathering rather than heavy enforcement.
Duke also called for stronger accountability within the police and other security institutions, including holding local commanders responsible for serious breaches within their jurisdictions.
On corruption, he argued that stronger consequences were necessary, saying misconduct persists when institutions fail to adequately punish wrongdoing.
He also called for judicial reforms, particularly faster resolution of commercial disputes, which he said would be necessary to attract investment and restore confidence in Nigeria’s legal system.
Duke further proposed reducing the cost of governance by restructuring the National Assembly into a unicameral legislature comprising only the Senate.
On the 2027 election, he acknowledged the fragmentation within the opposition and attributed some of its difficulties to competing political interests.
He said he hoped to play a role in efforts to build a more cohesive opposition capable of challenging the ruling party.
Addressing legal challenges surrounding his emergence as the PRP presidential candidate, Duke dismissed the suits as distractions and urged Nigerians to focus on the records and policies of those seeking political office.
His criticism of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, however, emerged as one of the strongest points of his interview.
For Duke, the project represents what he sees as Nigeria’s wider problem of spending priorities, with government pursuing major infrastructure while citizens continue to grapple with poor electricity supply, pressure on healthcare and education, insecurity and a difficult business environment.
His comments are likely to add to the ongoing debate over whether the coastal highway represents a strategic long-term investment or an expensive project that should take a lower priority amid Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
With the 2027 election cycle gathering momentum, the project could increasingly become part of the political debate over how Nigeria should balance long-term infrastructure development with immediate investment in essential public services.
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has removed the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, from office with immediate effect.
The governor’s directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor.
According to the statement, Mbam was directed to immediately hand over all government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government.
He was also ordered to transfer the responsibilities of the Ministry of Works to the Permanent Secretary pending further directives from the state government.
The statement read in part: “The Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has directed the immediate removal from office of the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam.
“He is to hand over all government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government and transfer responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary in the ministry.”
The governor, according to the statement, assured residents that his administration remained committed to effective governance and improving public infrastructure across the state.
No reason was given for Mbam’s removal.
The development comes months after Nwifuru suspended Mbam and the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development and Concession, Engr. Ogbonnaya Obasi-Abara, in February 2026 over alleged dereliction of duty.
The earlier suspension was also announced by Uzor, who directed the affected commissioners to surrender government property and official vehicles to the SSG.
Mbam’s latest removal has reportedly generated concern within the State Executive Council, particularly amid calls for improved performance by government officials.
Former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation under the administration of former Governor David Umahi, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, had recently called on Nwifuru to overhaul his State Executive Council and ensure that officials who were underperforming lived up to expectations.
The government has not indicated whether Mbam’s removal is connected to the earlier suspension or any specific issue concerning the Ministry of Works.
News
SEDC to Launch 50,000-Hectare Agro-Mechanisation Project in Enugu to Tackle Unemployment, Insecurity
The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has concluded arrangement for the kick-off the zone-wide 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation project in Enugu community meant to tackle insecurity, unemployment and food insecurity.
The SEDC zone-wide 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation, which is meant to be established in each of the 15 senatorial zones of the five South-East states, would commence at a pilot scheme level on Sept. 22.
This is contained in a statement issued by the media aide to the Governor of Enugu State, Chief Uche Anichukwu, on Wednesday in Enugu.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Mr Mark Okoye, disclosed this during a community engagement at the pilot project site in Nomeh Unateze community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State on Tuesday.
Okoye said the SEDC had, following its establishment in 2024, used the first year to do extensive studies and design a blueprint that cuts across different areas of the South-East economy.
He said the agro-mechanisation projects, remained a major part of the commission’s blueprint, explaining that it would address insecurity, unemployment, and food security.
According to him, so, what we are here for is one of our flagship initiatives, which is called the South-East Agro Mechanisation Programme or the South East Agro Development Programme.
Okoye said that the SEDC was committed to develop up to 50,000 hectares of land and that would be used for mechanised farming across the region.
“We are here for a pre-assessment, pre-flag-off visit to see the area, understand the level of work that needs to be done and ensure that contractors can start mobilising so that once we hit the site we start running.
“Because a big part of what we are looking at is how to address food insecurity and unemployment, ensuring that we are producing what we put on the table.
“We are starting with pilot programmes where we are taking 200 to 300 hectares of farmland across 15 senatorial zones and developing them to standard farms.
“Where you not only have cassava, maize, some of our staple crops, but also some cash crops. In some areas, there will be the centres for learning and centres for productivity,” he said.
Okoye said that Gov. Peter Mbah would flag off the project on Tuesday, adding the SEDC team came to assess the area, meet with the community and ensurr that all the plans are in place.
“And within the second we put this investment here, at least N4 billion or N5 billion of added investment will come in,” he said.
Okoye commended President Bola Tinubu for addressing the long yearning by the South-East for a commission to mobilise resources and coordinate development in the region.
He urged the people to reciprocate the numerous gestures by supporting the Tinubu to continue the development efforts post 2027.
He further revealed that the commission would soon roll ou an investment agency to help mobilise local and Diaspora investments for the region’s speedy development.
A community leader in the community, Chief Uche Anichukwu, described the agro-mechanisation project as one of the blessings of the APC, Tinubu and Mbah administrations to Enugu State in general and Nomeh Unateze in particularly.
Anichukwu, who is also media aide to the Governor of Enugu State, said that the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road, with a spur to Oduma, had created ready and multiple access to market for the proposed agricultural project.
Speaking, Chairman, Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, Dr Chukwudi Anyianuka, and other community stakeholders, reiterated their support for the project.
They commended Tinubu and Mbah for siting the project in their community.
“We are very happy. We cannot wait to see it actualised and we promise that we are going to provide everything that is necessary to make sure that this is established.
“The Commission has taken a methodical approach to regional development.
“Rather than the pitfall of throwing money at development challenges, it undertook a study of the region and came up with a master plan, which includes this initiative, to reinvent the South-East,” Anyianuka added.
Also present at the interactive session were the members of the traditional council of Nomeh Unateze and community heads.
…As Onitsha South Mayor Empowers Workers
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Maintenance and rehabilitation works at the recently closed First Niger Bridge are being hampered by poor lighting during night shifts and inadequate sanitary facilities at the site.
Recall that before the closure of the bridge, the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, had disclosed that efforts would be made to carry out some of the rehabilitation works at night.
However, some of the workers at the site said poor lighting was affecting effective monitoring of activities on the bridge, while the poor sanitary condition of the area was also posing a threat to their health.
The workers made the complaints during a working visit to the bridge by the Mayor of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Orji.
Orji, who was accompanied by the Secretary of the Local Government, Barr. Paul Onuachalla, and executives of the Fegge Community Landlords/Tenants Welfare Association, led by its Chairman, Chief Nnamdi Onugha, provided cooked meals and packs of bottled water to the personnel and workers at the site.
Speaking after the visit, Orji said the gesture was aimed at supporting the workers and showing solidarity with the Federal Government’s rehabilitation efforts on the bridge.
He said, “To support the workers and give them a sense of belonging, that is why we came to appreciate them. We will continue doing so from time to time as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.”
The Mayor also disclosed that the council had provided facilities, including mobile toilets and water tanks, while arrangements were being made for water tankers to supply water to the tanks.
Orji further stressed the importance of the military presence in Onitsha South, noting that the personnel would contribute to security, rapid response and protection of the bridge, Onitsha South and parts of Ogbaru Local Government Area.
He added that the council would continue to strengthen its collaboration with security agencies to ensure maximum security across Onitsha South Local Government Area.
Earlier, after inspecting the environment with the Mayor, the Officer in Charge, who pleaded anonymity, identified poor lighting at the bridge at night as one of the major challenges confronting the personnel.
According to him, the situation makes it difficult to effectively monitor activities around the bridge, particularly during night shifts.
He also complained about the poor sanitary condition of the under-bridge environment where the personnel camp, saying they had to clean up the area themselves upon arrival.
The officer further appealed for improved accommodation and food support for the personnel.
He, however, commended the Mayor for the visit and assistance, saying the gesture made the workers feel appreciated.
“We feel loved and appreciated. We are happy seeing you around,” he said.
Africa’s richest industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that he bought his first private jet at the age of 22 and a half.
Dangote made the disclosure on Monday in Lagos during the formal launch of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals on the Nigerian Exchange.
Reflecting on his business journey, the billionaire said he had enjoyed travelling by private jet over the years but was now comfortable using commercial flights.
He also urged wealthy Nigerians to channel more of their resources into productive investments rather than luxury assets.
Dangote particularly appealed to affluent Nigerians who spend huge sums on private aircraft to consider investing such wealth in industries and businesses that could contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“I try as much as I can to encourage people who are riding $900 million aircraft to please go and put that into production. We are not going to be a great nation without doing something productive,” he said.
He stressed that directing private wealth towards productive ventures would help strengthen the economy, create jobs and provide greater opportunities for national development.
The Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has rejected claims that it appropriated or “stole” the idea of Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit from another organisation whose application was reportedly pending before the Federal Ministry of Trade.
NDCCITMA considers the allegation misleading and wishes to set the record straight.
The concept of Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit is a broad and widely recognised platform used globally to bring together government, the private sector, investors, businesses, development partners and other stakeholders to deliberate on economic growth and development. The use of the term “Economic Summit” does not, in itself, establish exclusive ownership of the concept by any individual or organisation.
More importantly, the chronology of events does not support the allegation being made against NDCCITMA.
While the said application was reportedly still pending before the Ministry of Trade as at September 2025, NDCCITMA had already gone through the appropriate processes and received approval from the Ministry of Trade in August 2025.
NDCCITMA did not rely on, copy, or appropriate the pending application of any other party in arriving at its name or identity
It is also important to distinguish between a concept and legally protected intellectual property, such as a registered trademark, proprietary material or other enforceable intellectual property right.
NDCCITMA remains committed to conducting its activities in accordance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.Most importantly, in Suit No: FHC/PHC/CS/57/2026 filed on same subject matter in Portharcourt by the petitioner, the learned Judge had restrained the plaintiff from further interfering with the Summit being planned by the NDCCITMA. NDCCITMA will continue respect the rule of law
We therefore urge the public, stakeholders, the media to disregard any narrative unless such claims are supported by verifiable facts and relevant legal documentation.
NDCCITMA firmly rejects the allegation and maintains that its activities and identity were developed and pursued independently and through the appropriate regulatory channels.
The organisation remains focused on its mandate of promoting commerce, industry, trade, agriculture, investment and sustainable economic development across the Niger Delta region.
Signed:
Management
Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA)
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