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By Madu Obi
Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has joined in the ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project estimated to cost about N2.8 trillion.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of the highway, Obi expressed serious concerns about its pricing and raised questions regarding the timing and prioritization of such a monumental venture.
According to Obi, there are pressing issues of numerous uncompleted roads across the country, emphasizing their role in economic growth and regional connectivity.
He listed critical roads in various geopolitical zones of the country that need urgent attention, many of which, he added, have been under construction for several years due to poor funding and planning.
For the North West, he listed some of the roads to include Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Road, - Sokoto – Funtua – Zaria Road, Kano – Hadejia Road, Kano – Katsina Road , Zaria – Funtua – Shema – Tsafe – Gusau – Talata - Mafara – Sokoto Road , and Kano – Kwanar – Danja – Hadejia Road
In the North East are Kano – Damaturu - Maiduguri Road, Mubi – Maiduguri Road, Nguru – Gashua – Bayamari Road, Gombe – Biu – Numan Road, Dikwa – Marte – Monguno Road, Potiskum – Fika – Bajoga – Gombe – Biu Road, Mayo Belwa – Jada – Ganye – Tongue Road, and Tumu – Pindiga – Kashere – Bashar – Wase – Wamba – Nassarawa Road.
North Central has Abuja – Lokoja – Okene – Auchi – Benin Road, Ilorin – Jebba Road, Kabba – Omuaran Road, Suleja – Minna Road, Makurdi – Gboko – Yandev – Katsina-Ala Road, Buruku Bridge across Katsina River.
For the South West, he listed Lagos – Badagry Road, Ibadan – Ife – Ilesha – Osogbo Road, Itoikin - Ijebu Ode – Ibadan Road, Ibadan – Ilorin – Jebba – Mokwa – Bokani Junction Road, Abeokuta – Ibadan Road, Ikorodu – Shagamu Road, Ado – Igede – Aramoko – Itawure Road, Ajasse Ipo – Offa – Erinle – Osun State Border Road.
The South East, he said, has 9th Mile – Oturkpo -Makurdi Road, Enugu – Port Harcourt Road, Onitsha – Awka — Enugu Road, Onitsha – Owerri – Umuahia Road, Bende – Arochukwu – Ohafia Road, Okigwe – Afikpo Road, Nsukka – Obollo Afor – Ehamafu – Nkalagu Road, Oba – Nnewi – Okija Road
Those in the South-South are Benin – Sapele – Warri Road, East – West Road, (Warri – Kaiama – Ahoada – Port Harcourt – Eket – Oron) Yenegoa Road, Junction – Kolo – Otuoke Road, Sapele – Agbor – Ewu Road, Benin – Akure – Ore – Ife Road, Ikot Ekpene – Aba – Owerri Road, Jattau – Fugar – Agenebode Road, Bodo – Bonny Road with Bridge across Opobo Channel, Port Harcourt – Onne Road, Agbor – Sakpoba – Ogharefe Road, and Odukpani Junction – Itu – Ikot Ekpene – Umuahia Road.
Obi said with the Federal Ministry of Works allocating a capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00 for 2024, in addition to funding from multilateral loan projects and other sources, the question arises over the wisdom of embarking on another massive project that may not be completed for the next 20 or 30 years.
Warning against exacerbating the problem of abandoned, incomplete projects that do not contribute to economic growth, Obi called for the prioritization of existing uncompleted projects, emphasizing the need to allocate resources towards repairing and completing vital infrastructure.
He stressed the importance of focusing on the urgent needs of the people and ensuring that investments serve the collective good of the nation.
He also advocated prioritizing the completion and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure over embarking on what he called colossal new projects with uncertain completion timelines.
Obi emphasized the importance of fiscal discipline and strategic prioritization in addressing the country's infrastructure challenges
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