April 14, (THEWILL) – The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said that the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration poses a huge threat to the opposition political parties in the country.
The pan Igbo group stated this in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, recalling that the project, which commenced during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, has been taken up by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to be completed before 2027.
According to the group, the Presidential endorsement, heralding a staggering N15 trillion investment, and the subsequent assignment of contracts to the esteemed Hi-Tech Company, compliant with legal protocols, mark the genesis of a monumental undertaking.
The statement reads: “In the realm of Nigerian politics, a seismic shift is underway, reverberating through the corridors of power and capturing the attention of astute observers. At the heart of this transformation lies the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, a monumental endeavour that, if brought to fruition, could reshape the political landscape and recalibrate the fortunes of key players, notably the 2023 PDP Presidential Candidate and The Waziri of Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar.
“As Nigerians and, more specifically, Ndigbo, bear witness to the unfolding drama, questions abound regarding the enigma surrounding a Coastal Superhighway that promises manifold economic benefits for the poor Nigerians. Yet, paradoxically, this initiative has metamorphosed into a nightmare for opposition politicians, casting a shadow, especially over Atiku Abubakar’s political ambitions.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural institution, has meticulously analysed the labyrinthine processes underpinning the inception of the 700km Coastal Lagos-Calabar route. The Presidential endorsement, heralding a staggering 15 trillion Naira investment, and the subsequent assignment of contracts to the esteemed Hi-Tech Company, compliant with legal protocols, mark the genesis of a monumental undertaking. The measured pace of road construction, priced at N4 billion per kilometre, has sown seeds of trepidation within opposition circles, foreseeing a potential disruption to the political equilibrium.
“The spectre haunting the opposition, particularly about President Tinubu’s prospective legacy in presiding over the project’s completion before the 2027 elections under the aegis of Minister Of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, poses a cogent threat to Atiku Abubakar’s final bid for the presidential mantle in 2027, an endeavour fraught with the perils of advancing age.
“The ongoing construction efforts, diligently overseen by Hi-Tech Company, have garnered favour among Nigerians, reinforced by Minister Umahi’s illuminating discourse on the genesis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road through NDDC’s inception during the Goodluck Jonathan era.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, heralds a dawn of resolution, elated by Senator Umahi’s adept dispelling of controversies encircling the Lagos-Calabar Road project. It is incumbent upon Nigerians to uphold the sanctity of Minister Umahi’s endeavours and shield them from undue distractions orchestrated by sponsored malcontents, urging patience and strategic timing for future engagements.
“As the saga unfolds, Atiku Abubakar is enjoined to supplicate for the success of President Tinubu and Minister Umahi in delivering the myriad ongoing road projects inherited from the tenure of Former President Buhari. Minister Umahi’s stewardship, underscored by a presidential mandate for innovative cement technology, heralds a renaissance of infrastructure developmentalism fostering economic durability and enhancing the prosperity of all Nigerians.”
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