The Federal Government yesterday said calls for the stoppage of work on the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by some political opponents were at odds with the economic activities and other benefits already visible along the corridor.

It stated that the realities on the ground showed the project was already transforming livelihoods.

Works Minister Dave Umahi, at a stakeholders’ meeting on the highway in Lagos, said it is on record that some opposition politicians had promised to stop the Coastal Highway if elected.

‘’Some candidates of other parties say, ‘If I come, I will stop this Coastal Highway.’ But Nigerians are already seeing that this is an investment that is already creating jobs. Demographics

The minister added that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu legacy infrastructure projects are creating jobs, boosting commerce, attracting climate financing and laying the foundation for economic growth.

Besides, Umahi stated that the concrete highways being executed by the Tinubu administration would qualify for carbon credits because of their environmental benefits.

He added that the solar-powered lighting and extensive tree planting along the corridors would contribute to climate financing.

“When we get carbon credit on the concrete road because it has low heat emission, when we get carbon credit from the trees we are planting and from the solar lights, all these will generate carbon credit,” Umahi said.

He maintained the project would, when completed, shorten travel time between states, improve commerce and make life easier for Nigerians. Demographics

“The distance between Ogun State and Lagos State is shortened, so commerce is increased and life is made better. That is the essence of it.”

Umahi argued that infrastructure remains the foundation upon which other sectors depend, rejecting suggestions that equal investments should be made simultaneously across all sectors.

“For those who think the same degree of infrastructure must happen in every sector at the same time, that is an illusion because infrastructure is the sector that every other sector relies on,” he said.

The minister said the administration inherited 2,068 ongoing projects valued at about N13 trillion in 2023 but had continued executing them despite economic reforms.

“We inherited 2,068 ongoing projects worth N13 trillion, and despite the challenges, these projects are still progressing,” he said.

Responding to criticisms over economic hardship in the country, Umahi maintained that infrastructure development is creating employment opportunities across the value chain.

His words: “Somebody is saying hunger. What is hunger? People are working because of what we are creating. Infrastructure creates opportunities for those frying akara, those selling sand, those supplying materials. Everything benefits from infrastructure.”

The minister warned residents against dumping refuse or blocking drainage channels along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor, describing the practice as economic sabotage.

“It is a criminal offence to dump refuse or use concrete to block drainage channels. Anyone found doing so should be arrested and prosecuted. It is a national disaster and economic sabotage,” he said.

Umahi advised residents of communities along the corridor to keep drainage channels clean.

He assured Nigerians that the ministry would continue working to ensure the objectives of the administration’s infrastructure programme were achieved. Demographics

“If the objectives are not achieved, don’t blame President Tinubu, blame me. Don’t call out the President; you have to call me out, and my brother (State Minister Bello Goronyo), but we will do everything possible.

Umahi urged All Progressives Congress(APC) supporters to defend the Tinubu administration’s record against what he described as ‘’coordinated misinformation.’’

Saluting the courage to take on challenges in many sectors simultaneously, he said: “This president has been able to carry on with all these projects.

“I want all the APC members to tell the story. This man has done what, you know, no other president ever did. This man has the audacity and the welfare of the people at heart.

“What this man is doing is correcting the ugly past, and so we have to support him. We have to tell the story because there is a committed effort by some people, through their own content creation, to undermine the great work the President is doing. But we will not allow it.

“We sharpen our mouths. If they tackle us, we tackle them; if they Obidient us, we Tinubu them, we Asiwaju them.” Politics