The federal government has criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo for opposing the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, saying those criticising the project should not use the roads when completed.

David Umahi, minister of works, spoke on Thursday in Akure, the Ondo state capital, during an interactive session on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

“This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of President Tinubu’s four legacy projects. For those saying it is a waste of resources, they should not use the road when it is completed.”

He urged Nigerians to ignore Mr Obasanjo’s comments, adding that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was neither wasteful nor corrupt.

“If someone calls this project fraudulent, they are also calling me a fraud, and I am definitely not. This project has been very transparent, and we continue to engage stakeholders. Every step of the process is in the public domain,” he said.

Peoples Gazette had reported that Mr Obasanjo criticised the superhighway project in his book titled “Nigeria: Past and the Future”, describing the 700km project as wasteful, corrupt, and a misplaced priority.

Mr Umahi added, “The man (Obasanjo), by his age, deserves our respect, but it’s my duty as the Minister of Works to clarify that the project is not wasteful and not corrupt. I read on social media where they said, ‘Why is it me explaining and not the contractor?’

“What should the contractor say? It is my duty to explain, and I’m eminently qualified by reason of my years in public service and training as a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers to explain the project.

“I think anybody still criticising the project is waking up to say, ‘How can one man be attributed to this kind of legacy?’—especially if you had the opportunity to contribute to this kind of investment and didn’t do so.

“The truth remains that Section One of the Lagos-Calabar, which is 47.7 kilometers, is already about 70 percent completed within one year, and I will be asking those criticising it not to follow the road. They should not follow the road.”

Speaking at the event, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the successful completion of federal road projects in the state, emphasising the crucial role of infrastructure in driving economic growth and development.

Mr Aiyedatiwa also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for increasing federal presence in Ondo state through numerous infrastructural projects, including the ongoing Ore-Ondo-Akure dualization project, the federal teaching hospital, and the new aviation school, among others.

“We have not had it this good in recent times with federal projects in our state. Permit me to mention but a few: the Akure-Ore Dual Carriageway, the Akure-Ado Ekiti Dual Carriageway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure.”

He further stressed the importance of completing these projects, noting their potential to boost economic activities in the state and the South-West region. He also appealed for additional federal support to actualize critical projects such as the Ondo Deep Sea Port and efforts to mitigate the Ayetoro sea incursion.

Mr. Aiyedatiwa assured Mr Umahi that the Ondo state government would provide an enabling environment for the successful execution of these projects.

“We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people. In this regard, I pledge the Ondo State Government’s unflinching support and commitment towards their completion.”