> Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has raised serious concerns about the financial feasibility of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, warning that the ambitious project may never go beyond Epe.
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If you have been following the buzz around the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, you might want to sit down for this one. Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, has poured cold water on the excitement surrounding the project, stating bluntly that Nigeria simply cannot afford it — and that the road will likely grind to a halt somewhere around Epe, Lagos State.
“The Money Is Not There”
Duke, who governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007 and knows a thing or two about ambitious infrastructure projects, did not mince words when he addressed the issue. According to him, the federal government’s financial reality makes it practically impossible to complete a coastal highway that was designed to stretch all the way from Lagos to Calabar — a distance of over 700 kilometres.
For many Nigerians, especially those in the South-South and South-East regions, this is deeply disappointing news. The promise of a world-class coastal expressway had sparked genuine excitement, with many envisioning faster travel, increased trade, and boosted tourism along Nigeria’s stunning Atlantic coastline.
Why This Matters to Everyday Nigerians
Let us be real — infrastructure is not just a political talking point in Nigeria. Bad roads have cost lives, damaged goods, frustrated businesses, and kept communities isolated for decades. From the traders in Ondo hauling goods through terrible routes, to the fish farmers in Akwa Ibom struggling to access markets, a functional coastal highway could have been genuinely life-changing.
That is why Duke’s warning stings. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was not just a road — it represented hope for millions of Nigerians in coastal communities who have long felt left behind in terms of development.
The Bigger Question: Project or Political Show?
Duke’s concerns raise a question that many Nigerians have been quietly asking: Are we dealing with a genuine infrastructure plan or an elaborate political spectacle?
Nigeria has seen this story before. Grand projects are announced with fanfare, groundbreaking ceremonies are held, contractors are mobilised — and then, quietly, funding dries up and the project disappears into the long list of abandoned Nigerian initiatives. From the Second Niger Bridge that took decades to complete, to countless federal roads that remain in deplorable condition, the pattern is familiar.
If a well-connected former governor is publicly saying the government cannot afford this project, Nigerians have every reason to demand transparency and accountability on how public funds are being managed.
What Needs to Change
For Nigeria to build and sustain infrastructure of this scale, a few things must happen:
– Stable and transparent funding mechanisms must be put in place before shovels hit the ground
– Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) need to be structured properly, not used as a smokescreen
– Anti-corruption measures must be strengthened so that budgeted funds actually reach the project sites
– Long-term planning that survives changes in government must become the norm
The Bottom Line
Donald Duke’s warning is not just political commentary — it is a reality check that Nigerians deserve to hear. As citizens, we must hold our leaders accountable, ask the hard questions, and resist being swept away by the excitement of announcements that may never materialise.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway could be a transformational project for Nigeria. But transformation requires more than bold press releases — it requires money, political will, and honest execution.
Until those three ingredients are firmly in place, Duke’s prediction may very well come true: the highway stops at Epe, and the rest of coastal Nigeria continues to wait.
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What do you think? Is the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway a realistic project or political theatre? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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