Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, calling it a wasteful and corrupt endeavor. He also criticized the Bola Tinubu administration for allocating N21 billion for a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing it as a misplaced priority.
Obasanjo’s remarks are contained in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, where he assesses the performance of Nigerian leaders and their impact on governance. The book was unveiled during his 88th birthday celebration last week.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a 700km road costing N4.93 billion per kilometer, has sparked controversy over its awarding process. The Federal Government granted the contract to Hitech Construction Company, owned by Gilbert Chagoury—an alleged close associate of President Tinubu—without competitive bidding. Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have questioned the transparency of the deal.
Obasanjo, in his assessment of Tinubu’s government, expressed concerns that corruption and self-enrichment remain widespread among Nigerian leaders. He accused many political officeholders of prioritizing personal gains over national development.
“Everything is said to be transactional, and the slogan is ‘It is my turn to chop,’” Obasanjo wrote, lamenting the cycle of misgovernance.
While the Tinubu administration has not officially responded to the former president’s claims, his remarks have reignited debates on government accountability and infrastructure spending in Nigeria.
