A former member of the House of Representatives, Oghene Egoh, has described the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway as a critical infrastructure needed to enhance connectivity and economic integration across the South-West, South-South and South-East geo-political zones.

Mr Egoh, who represented Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency, said that the claim in some quarters that  the project was wasteful was unfounded and misleading.

Mr Egoh spoke in an interview in Lagos on Thursday. He said the road project would strengthen  trade relations among the zones, improve socio-economic activities and boost business interactions through an efficient road network.

He added that it would create employment opportunities and increase internally generated revenues for affected states.

“President Bola Tinubu is doing well and deserves acknowledgement for his administration’s infrastructure development, rather than undue criticism,” he said.

He noted that some road projects linking Lagos to parts of northern Nigeria were ongoing and being facilitated by the Tinubu administration.

Mr Egoh praised the administration for its commitment to infrastructure development and economic reforms aimed at promoting good governance nationwide.

The Lagos-Calabar road is a 700-kilometre project under construction by the Federal Ministry of Works. It is planned to run from Victoria Island, Lagos, to Calabar, Cross River.

The highway will pass through Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states before ending in Calabar.

(NAN)