A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State and Patron of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Solidarity Vanguard, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu, has opposed those branding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a misplaced priority, describing their criticisms as politically-induced .
Osinkolu averred that, though the project might be financially- tasking, but would help in fortifying the economy of the country when completed, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embarking on such landmark project to add further market Nigeria to the global community.
Osinkolu gave his endorsement of the multi-trillion Naira project, in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists, in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday.
Osinkolu clarified that his endorsement of the project was not based on emotion or political affinity with APC, but being a well traveled individual, who had witnessed the values and surfeit of contributions such superhighways were adding to economies of some of the advanced climes of the world.
Osinkolu held the firm opinion and prognostication that the 10-lane coastal road, designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before culminating in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, would transform the nation if the project is completed without adding political colouration.
He stated that by his own personal experiences of the benefit inherent in such project, it represents a veritable opportunity for unlocking of business opportunities in states and towns where the road cris-crossed and end up shoring up the revenue profiles of the country, states and the local economy.
Conversely, Osinkolu added that some countries through ingenuity, often turned the project into a tourism corridor that can attract local and foreign tourists if well designed, planned and executed.
Rationalizing the project further, Osinkolu, said the Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway, Ruta 1 highway in Chile, Great Ocean Atlantic Highway in Australia, pacific Coast Highway in California, USA and Adriatic Highway in Croatia, Bosnia , Herzegovina and Montenegro, are some of the major coastal highways that are transforming the economies of their host nations .
Essentially, Osinkolu held the firm belief that it won’t be misdirected for this highbrow project, identified as having the launchpad for economic projection to be replicated in Nigeria, as witnessed in some of the countries catalogued above .
“It was well discerning that some of the critics of this laudable project understood that the benefits outweigh the demerit, but they decided to be blinded by politics to rubbish such an inherently beneficial project. They were well traveled people , who knew the value it will add.
“Maybe they were scared that the completion of the project will boost President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s popularity ahead of 2027, hence, the terrific efforts to rubbish the project in the eyes of the public.
“Let me say that no one can underrate the economic value of any ordinary highway in terms of revenue boost, accessibility, and opening of a new vista of opportunities to the citizens, let alone a coastal superhighway that will cross about eight states, thereby reducing a journey of about 15 hours to less than four hours.
“It can’t be understated that this will automatically boost business opportunities along that axis due to proximity to Lagos and Port Harcourt business centres.
“It also has inherent tourism potential because coastal drive is the perfect road trip for seaside lovers and those seeking adventures and travel memories that will last a lifetime. The Chapman’s Peak Drive Coastal Highway in South Africa, Great Ocean Atlantic Highway in Australia are some of the coastal highways that are attracting tourism worldwide.
“So, by every standard, this project will be beneficial and the President must be commended, rather than being vilified by detractors for narrowed political reason”, Osinkolu said.