Diri Rejects Duke’s Claim That Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Is Unbuildable

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has faulted former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke for claiming the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is unbuildable because of the Niger Delta's swampy terrain.

Duke made the comment during an interview on Arise Television, arguing that constructing the 750-kilometre highway through Bayelsa would require numerous bridges because of the state’s terrain.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri said he was disappointed that a former governor from the South-South region would criticise the project, which he described as feasible based on existing infrastructure developments in Bayelsa.

The governor said his administration had constructed roads and bridges across swamps and mangroves, citing the Nembe-Brass Road, Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road and Yenagoa-Oporoma Road as examples of projects built in challenging terrain. He also referenced the 630-metre bridge across River Nun at Angiama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, as well as dualised roads in New Yenagoa City and Glory Drive Phases One, Two and Three.

According to Diri, these projects demonstrate that infrastructure can be developed in swampy areas and contradict Duke’s description of Yenagoa and the wider Bayelsa terrain.

“So, he is wrong. The Lagos-Calabar coastal road is buildable and possible,” the governor said.

Diri stressed that the coastal highway was important to the development of coastal states and riverine communities along its route. He described the project as a longstanding aspiration of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, noting that the Ijaw National Congress had advocated for it since its establishment in the 1990s.

The governor said President Bola Tinubu's administration was the first to embark on the project after years of requests to previous administrations. He added that the project was among the reasons he joined the All Progressives Congress, saying his people's interests remained his priority.

Diri also cautioned politicians against politicising development projects during election seasons, warning that the consequences could ultimately affect the people they seek to represent.

The 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is being constructed by the Federal Government and is expected to traverse Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.