Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has faulted the Tinubu administration’s prioritisation of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, arguing that such large-scale infrastructure should not come before tackling Nigeria’s pressing security and economic challenges.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Obi questioned the rationale behind committing vast national resources to what he described as “projects that will lead nowhere” in the face of mounting insecurity and economic hardship.
“Are you saying that the coastal road is more important than securing Nigeria?” he asked, stressing that national security and increased production should take precedence. According to Obi, a stable and secure environment forms the bedrock of any viable economy, without which even the most ambitious infrastructure investments would be ineffective.
“The roads we have across the country are already in poor condition. Fix those roads first, and use resources to secure the country,” he said. “Security is far more fundamental than roads. What use is a road to your village if you cannot drive there safely?”
Obi also highlighted other critical national issues such as food insecurity and erratic power supply, urging the federal government to focus on challenges that directly affect Nigerians’ daily lives.
“We are a government. We must secure our people, and it requires decisive action,” he said, pointing to his experience as governor. He called for greater empowerment of the military, police, and other security agencies to take firm action against internal threats.
“If we were in a war, we would declare a state of war,” Obi said. “Whatever it takes to secure the country, I would do it.”
His comments come amid ongoing debates over the federal government’s infrastructure priorities, particularly as Nigeria continues to grapple with rising insecurity, inflation, and widespread hardship.
Nzubechukwu Eze
