No Visible Impact Yet

Babachir Lawal, who served under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, criticised the current administration for failing to deliver any tangible or impactful projects that everyday Nigerians can see or feel. When asked about the government’s infrastructural achievements, Lawal was blunt:
“I cannot see any.”

He pointed out that, from his frequent travels across Nigeria, there’s little evidence of roads or infrastructure being constructed or rehabilitated, whether in the North or the South-West.

The Persistent Problem of Unfulfilled Promises

Lawal also highlighted the perennial issue of unfulfilled promises, particularly citing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has been a political talking point for successive administrations.
“It appears every government talks about it and allocates money, but it never gets anywhere,” he remarked. For Lawal, Nigerians have grown weary of hearing repeated promises that rarely turn into completed projects.

Dismissing the Coastal Highway as a “Scam”

The critique turned sharply toward the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, launched by President Tinubu in May. The first phase, which spans just 30 kilometres from Ahmadu Bello Way to Eleko Village in Lekki, Lagos, has been heavily criticised.

Lawal did not hold back, declaring:
“Their so-called coastal road is just a scam. Every Nigerian knows it is a scam. Even before they started, we knew it would be a scam, and it has become one.”

He argued that the project’s partial commencement is a misplaced priority amidst Nigeria’s rising national debt, questioning the logic behind the celebration over such a limited feat.

Concerns Over Transparency and Resource Management

Furthermore, the former SGF voiced concerns over the government’s borrowing practices and transparency. He criticised the tendency to borrow from Europe, only for the funds to be spent abroad, leaving Nigerians questioning what exactly their money is being used for.

“It has become such that the President can go and commission 30 kilometres of a 700-kilometre road, which has even become a source of controversy,” Lawal lamented. “What are they truly doing with our money?”

Broader Criticism and Public Discontent

According to Beadysworld blog, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has attracted widespread criticism from various quarters, with concerns over funding, environmental impact, displacement of communities, and transparency issues surrounding procurement.

As Nigeria remains embroiled in debates over infrastructural priorities and governance, Lawal’s candid remarks add fuel to the ongoing controversy over the true progress of President Tinubu’s infrastructural agenda.