Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has debunked claims that he barred former President Olusegun Obasanjo from using the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway upon its completion.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the massive 700km road project in Lagos, Umahi clarified that his remarks were misinterpreted.
“I have immense respect for former President Obasanjo; he is not just my former president but also a father figure and my in-law,” Umahi stated. “I never said he shouldn’t use the road. What I meant was that if someone believes the project is unnecessary, they have a choice to use it or not.”
The minister defended the project against criticism, emphasizing its economic significance.
“This road is not a wasteful venture—it will create jobs, generate carbon credits, and provide energy solutions through solar lighting and windmill energy. Plus, it will cut travel time from Lagos to Calabar to just five hours,” he explained.
Umahi also dismissed allegations of corruption linked to the project, recalling that even Obasanjo once commended his transparency during his tenure as Ebonyi State governor.
“If a father suddenly calls his son corrupt, the son has every right to defend himself,” Umahi said.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway remains one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, with section one expected to be completed in the next six months.
