Lagos-Calabar coastal highway not land grabbing, Umahi insists

Minister of Works Dave Umahi has dismissed allegations that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project amounts to land grabbing, accusing critics of politicising the initiative.

Umahi spoke during an interview on Arise Television aired on Friday, in response to former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke’s description of the project as land grabbing.

The minister also criticised Duke for allegedly describing a sitting governor as a “local champion” and questioned the performance of Tinapa, a tourism and business resort developed during Duke’s administration.

“When we talk about bogus projects, we should be talking about Tinapa. Is it functioning? It is not functioning, but you borrowed money from the state. Which one is land grabbing?” Umahi said.

He argued that political considerations had influenced the criticism of the coastal highway, noting that some former governors had previously commended President Bola Tinubu for the project.

“Because of politics, you are now saying it is land grabbing. Who is grabbing the land?” he asked.

Umahi said he was pleased that more people were now supporting the project, adding that he had previously been among its few vocal defenders.

He also urged Niger Delta residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, warning that a change in government could jeopardise the coastal highway project and other development efforts in the region.