Umahi Hits Back at Coastal Highway Critics

Amarachi Ihesiulo

August 7, 2026
3 min read
David Umahi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the ongoing 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, dismissing criticisms of the project and insisting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will complete the landmark infrastructure as planned.

Umahi spoke on Wednesday during an inspection of the Ondo State section of the highway in Ilaje Local Government Area, where he responded to recent remarks by former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, who had questioned the viability of the project during a television interview.

The minister described critics of the coastal highway as being driven by envy, arguing that many never believed the Tinubu administration could execute a project of such magnitude.

“Those attacking the Coastal Highway are, in my view, motivated by envy because they never believed this President could deliver it,” Umahi said.

He maintained that work on the multi-billion-naira highway was progressing steadily across several sections and rejected suggestions that construction would not extend beyond Lagos.

During the television programme, Duke had expressed doubts about the project’s implementation, arguing that it was unlikely to go beyond the Epe axis of Lagos State and questioning whether it should rank among the government’s top infrastructure priorities.

Responding to the former governor, Umahi acknowledged Duke’s contributions to public service and commended him for expressing his views respectfully.

“I watched the interview of His Excellency Donald Duke. He is a very brilliant man. What impressed me most was that he avoided insults. He was a perfect gentleman, and I am proud of him,” the minister said.

“However, some of the issues he raised require clarification. When he said the Coastal Highway would never go beyond Epe, I respectfully disagree.”

Umahi said significant progress had already been recorded on different segments of the project.

According to him, Section One, measuring 7.47 kilometres from Victoria Island to Elepe Village, has been completed, while Section Two, a 50-kilometre stretch from Lagos to the Ogun border, is about 70 per cent complete.

He added that Sections 3A and 3B, covering approximately 67 kilometres, have reached about 30 per cent completion, while work is also advancing on Section Four, an 82-kilometre segment extending from Ogun into Ondo State.

The minister further disclosed that Section Five, a 180-kilometre stretch in Akwa Ibom State, remains the longest segment of the coastal highway and is currently under construction.

He also revealed that another 100-kilometre section beginning from the end of the Ondo segment is at the design stage, noting that only the portions passing through Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states would remain after that phase.

Umahi reiterated that the project, conceived years ago but delayed by funding constraints, is now progressing under President Tinubu’s administration and urged Nigerians to support what he described as a transformative national infrastructure project.

Umahi Hits Back at Coastal Highway Critics

Amarachi Ihesiulo

Amarachi Ihesiulo

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