A growing wave of criticism has trailed the federal government’s elaborate commissioning of a mere 30 kilometers of the ambitious 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with prominent political figures and civil society actors questioning the rationale behind what they described as a “costly spectacle” for “token progress.”
The former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, in a strongly-worded statement described the ceremony as “a rushed celebration of an unfinished dream,” accusing the Tinubu-led administration of prioritizing propaganda over genuine development.
The 30-kilometer section, representing just 4.3% of the proposed length of the coastal highway, was unveiled last week with much fanfare.
President Bola Tinubu flew in from Abuja to Lagos, flanked by a high-powered entourage including ministers, security chiefs, and governors from several states. According to sources close to the event, billions of naira were spent on logistics, security, and lodging for the commissioning—expenses that critics argue could have been better used to address core project bottlenecks.
“The billions spent on this spectacle could have been better allocated to tackle the actual challenges threatening the project’s future—especially in terrain-heavy sections like Ondo and the Niger Delta,” said Ameh.
He cited revelations by Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a televised interview, in which the minister admitted that critical geotechnical difficulties—like swampy lands over 40 kilometers long and 8 feet deep—were only discovered after construction had begun.
“This exposes a shocking lack of planning. If the government is already struggling in Ondo, which is relatively easier terrain, how will they cope with the more difficult Niger Delta axis?” Ameh queried.
Perhaps more damning are claims that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted—despite it being a legal and technical requirement for large-scale infrastructure projects. There is also no publicly disclosed feasibility study, route optimization plan, or clear documentation from the National Assembly approving the cost of the highway, which remains unknown to date.
“This lack of transparency and due process has raised red flags about the true intent of the project,” Ameh added. “Is it really about coastal development, or just another avenue to funnel public funds?”
According to Ameh, at the current pace of construction—30 kilometers in two years—the remaining 670 kilometers would take at least 24 years to complete. “At that rate, this road is likely to end up as another white elephant project in Nigeria’s long history of abandoned dreams,” he warned.
The criticism is the latest in a string of complaints about the government’s perceived preference for optics and pageantry over tangible progress. Many Nigerians took to social media to express frustration, using hashtags like #CoastalRoadFarce and #CommissioningSpectacle to lampoon the fanfare.
Civil society groups have joined the call for greater accountability. A coalition of youth-led organizations issued a statement on Monday demanding a public audit of the project and publication of all relevant documents, including the EIA, cost breakdown, and timeline.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road has the potential to transform Nigeria’s economy and connect underdeveloped regions,” said Ameh. “But this can only happen if the government returns to the drawing board—conduct proper surveys, get legislative buy-in, and build with integrity.”
For now, the newly commissioned 30-kilometer stretch stands as both a symbol of promise and a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in realizing one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.