The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to embark on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, saying the country should focus more on essential services.
Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, made the remark on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He argued that the project was not a priority considering Nigeria’s economic realities, adding that funds allocated to it would have been better spent on improving electricity supply, healthcare and education.
According to him, Nigeria already has an existing road linking Lagos and Calabar, which only requires rehabilitation.
“Nigeria cannot afford the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. I don’t think the road will go beyond Epe.
“There is already a road from Lagos to Calabar. I have driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it.
“There are some expenditures we make that do not reflect the realities of our circumstances,” he said.
Duke said the money being spent on the coastal highway could help address critical challenges facing Nigerians, particularly in the health and education sectors.
He expressed concern over the state of healthcare funding, describing the allocation for the sector as inadequate for a country with over 200 million people.
“The amount spent on that road could be better spent providing electricity or upgrading the healthcare system,” he added.
The PRP candidate also faulted the level of funding for education, saying the country’s schools were not receiving the attention required for sustainable development.
