Why Diri’s defence of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway makes him a ‘local champion’ – Duke

Former Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has criticized Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State for allegedly politicizing concerns over the challenging terrain along the coastal highway connecting Lagos and Calabar. Duke's concerns were recently validated by Minister of Works Dave Umahi, who acknowledged the difficult ground conditions necessitating the redesign of certain sections of the project.

Duke's personal assistant, Emeka Okpragu, stated that Diri should instead focus on addressing the technical and financial aspects of the project, rather than dismissing Duke's criticism as politically motivated.

In response to Diri's assertion that the project is feasible, Duke pointed to the construction of roads and bridges in Bayelsa State as evidence of its buildability. However, he emphasized that the geographical challenges of the region, with its numerous swamps, do not negate the need to examine the highway's engineering requirements, cost, and funding priorities.

Duke argued that while it may be technically possible to build the highway, it is crucial to scrutinize its overall financial implications. He questioned the necessity of constructing a new coastal highway when existing roads could be rehabilitated to improve connectivity between Lagos and Calabar. Duke maintained that while Diri's examples of roads and bridges in swamps do not dismiss Duke's concerns, they do highlight the need for a comprehensive examination of the proposed highway's demands.