Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has labeled the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project a “scam,” making the assertion during an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on July 11, 2025.
The ₦15 trillion project, flagged off by President Bola Tinubu in May 2024, aims to connect Lagos to Calabar over 700 kilometers, with a $747 million loan recently secured for its initial phase. Lawal, a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration, argued that the project lacks transparency and tangible progress, questioning its economic justification amid Nigeria’s growing debt.
Lawal pointed to the commissioning of a mere 30-kilometer stretch as a publicity stunt, noting that no significant construction is visible beyond Lagos’ Lekki Peninsula. He criticized the $747 million borrowing, suggesting funds are misallocated before reaching Nigeria, a claim echoed by opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar.
The government defends the project as a catalyst for trade, but Lawal’s remarks have reignited debates about fiscal responsibility, with northern and southwestern regions reporting no related infrastructure gains. The Ministry of Works has yet to respond, though supporters argue the highway’s long-term benefits outweigh short-term concerns.