Amidst harsh criticisms against the project, Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga reports on his Twitter X handle that an organisation of youth from the Niger-Delta has warned against discouraging the Lagos- Calabar coastal highway.
Such eminent Nigerians as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar have described the project as an inhumane and misplaced priority in view of the neglected bad East-West roads and demolition of trillions of naira worth of property and investments.
Government says the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction would cost N4 billion per kilometre, and the total 700 kilometres would be constructed for N15 trillion.
In his tweet, titled: “Youths of Niger Delta warn Peter Obi and other critics of Lagos- Calabar superhighway,” Onanuga reported as follows:
21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC) has warned critics of the Calabar-Lagos Highway to desist from discouraging the Federal Government from achieving the first major landmark project in the Niger Delta.
While the group commended President Bola Tinubu for the approval of the road that would transverse the coastlines of the Niger Delta, it said the highway is both a political and economic masterstroke by the present administration.
In a statement, signed by its Coordinator, Izon Ebi, the group said the project, when completed, would bring about an economic boom and tourism renaissance in the Niger Delta area. The statement added that they were baffled that some people were protesting the “noble economic thrust of the President”.
The statement read: “We are forced to wonder if it’s because the project is not sited in their region or they can no more hide their hate and disdain for the Niger Delta people. We the people of the Niger Delta support the President’s noble stride, and, on this note, send clear warnings to haters of the Niger Delta to steer clear”.
