Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has harshly criticized the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, calling it a “scam” and questioning its transparency and overall benefit to ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during a televised interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, Lawal expressed deep skepticism about the federal government’s priorities, saying the project does not reflect the developmental needs of the country.
“If you ask me, ‘What projects has this government implemented so far that are visible to Nigerians and have impacted their lives?’ I cannot see any,” Lawal said during the interview. He added that in the parts of northern Nigeria where he frequently travels, there is little evidence of ongoing road construction or any meaningful infrastructure development.
“In the South-West, I don’t think there is any either. They are still talking about the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which it appears every government talks about and votes money for, and it never goes anywhere,” he added.
Lawal’s most pointed criticism was directed at the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, a flagship infrastructure project of the Bola Tinubu administration. He described the project as dubious from inception and maintained that his earlier fears about its credibility have proven valid.
“Even before they started, we knew it would be a scam, and it has become a scam,” Lawal declared.
The Tinubu administration commissioned the first 30-kilometre phase of the Lagos-Calabar highway in May 2025. The initial stretch, which runs from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in Lagos, marks the starting point of a broader 700-kilometre project that is projected to cost around ₦15 trillion over several years.
To fund the project, the Federal Government secured a $747 million loan in June 2025. However, Lawal questioned the justification for taking such loans, especially when there is little to show for previous borrowing.
“You borrow money from Europe, and before it comes, it is spent over there,” he said. “What can Nigerians see? What are they doing with our money?”
Criticism of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has been mounting since its announcement. Political opponents including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi have raised concerns over the project’s cost, scope, and transparency.
In addition, some property owners whose buildings were demolished for the project have staged protests and demanded compensation for their losses.”
