Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Thursday, said the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway was not a wasteful and corrupt project.
Umahi, who spoke in Akure, Ondo state capital, while unveiling the 71km alignment section of the road, described the coastal highway as one of the four legacy projects of President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was reported to have criticised the project in one of his new books as wasteful and corrupt.
The minister, however, asked Nigerians to ignore Obasanjo’s comment about the road project.
He said: “This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the four legacy projects of Mr. President. For those saying it is a waste of resources when the project is completed, they should not use the road.
“This is not a wasteful project and it is not fraudulent. If someone is saying it is a fraud, that person is also saying that I am a fraud and I am definitely not.
“This project has been very transparent and that is why we continue to engage the stakeholders. Every step of the process has been very transparent and every detail is in the public domain.”
According to Umahi, the alignment had reduced the route from 75km to 71km and its unveiling was the final stage of the route approval.
The alignment of the 71km section of the coastal highway was accepted by the residents of Ondo State.
