Diri Faults Donald Duke’s Criticism of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has faulted criticism of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project by former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, who described the project as difficult to execute because of the swampy terrain in parts of the Niger Delta.

The 750-kilometre coastal highway, being constructed by the Federal Government, traverses nine coastal states: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

Duke had questioned the feasibility of the project, arguing that the swampy nature of Bayelsa, including its capital, Yenagoa, would make construction extremely challenging and require numerous bridges.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri expressed disappointment that a former governor from the South-South region would criticise the project based on what he described as political considerations rather than the realities of infrastructure development in the Niger Delta.

The governor maintained that Duke’s comments about Bayelsa’s difficult terrain did not reflect the progress made in the state’s infrastructure development. He argued that his administration had successfully constructed roads and bridges across swamps and mangrove forests, demonstrating that such projects were achievable.

Diri cited the Nembe-Brass Road, the Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road and the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road as examples of major infrastructure projects constructed across swampy terrain in the state’s three senatorial districts.

He also highlighted the 630-metre bridge across River Nun at Angiama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, describing it as one of the longest bridges in the region.

According to the governor, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is crucial to unlocking economic opportunities, improving connectivity and promoting development in coastal states and riverine communities along its route.

Diri further stated that the project holds particular significance for the Ijaw ethnic nationality, noting that the Ijaw National Congress had advocated its construction since its establishment in the 1990s.

He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was the first to undertake the project after years of requests to successive federal governments.

The governor also explained that the importance of the project to his people was among the reasons he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the interests of his people remained a priority.

Diri cautioned politicians against politicising development projects, particularly during election seasons, warning that ordinary citizens often bear the consequences when political disagreements overshadow initiatives intended to benefit the public.