BUILDING a coastal road from Lagos to Calabar at this time, when the internal roads are not motorable is a decision that reasonable Nigerians are finding difficult to understand. I know that if a need assessment is conducted today, Lagos to Calabar Expressway will not be our number one priority. Governments down through the years are always coming up with white elephant projects that may never be completed even in their generation. The reason for this behaviour is not known to us, except politicians themselves.
We were taught in elementary economics that government may never have the resources to do everything at the same time, and as such, they embrace prioritisation and fiscal discipline as guiding principles. We do not begrudge government for not siting big projects in our areas, rather we begrudge government for not doing the important things that immediately impact in our fortunes.
In 1978, then military head of state. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, started Badagry to Sokoto expressway. 46 years after, that road has not gone past 40 kilometres and has been abandoned. Even the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, an indigene of Sokoto who took over power from Obasanjo, did not see the need to continue with the project. When Obasanjo returned as democratically elected president in 1999, he didn’t remember the project.
It is necessary to inform our leaders that every government is on the trench of history. I believe that development is creating the condition for the realisation of human personality, but the best form of governance is one that seeks to carry out projects that have capacity to transform the immediate fortunes of the citizenry. A beautiful coastal expressway without functional internal roads makes no sense.
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We were taught in elementary economics that government may never have the resources to do everything at the same time, and as such, they embrace prioritisation and fiscal discipline as guiding principles. We do not begrudge government for not siting big projects in our areas, rather we begrudge government for not doing the important things that immediately impact in our fortunes.
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The road, we were told that when completed, has the potential to increase Nigeria’s GDP and trigger industrialisation, create trade, enhance the transportation of goods and services, and safety of road users. Political scientists taught us that every policy of government has its own selling point. Talk is cheap. Project objectives are easier theorised, but implementation is where the problem is.
According to Peter Obi, it may take 20 to 30 years to complete. Even if the road were to be completed and importers move goods to Calabar from Lagos only to find out that there are no motorable access roads to other parts of the east from Calabar, then we may not have achieved anything. The whole nation is replete with abandoned projects.
When Badagry to Sokoto highway was conceptualised 46 years ago, the theoretical selling points were more laudable and strident than the one of Lagos to Calabar. Lagos and Calabar are both coastal cities. While the ports in Lagos are well developed and functioning, same cannot be said about Calabar port. If Calabar port is well developed, all importers in the Eastern part of Nigeria can go through Calabar. The most pressing need in that region therefore are a functional port and good internal roads to move goods from Calabar Port to Aba, Umuahia, Nnewi, Owerri Onitsha and other parts of Eastern Nigeria.
On critical analysis, Badagry to Sokoto has more economic benefits. Sokoto is not a coastal town, the road will avail importers from the Northern states and Niger Republic the opportunity to move their imports up north. The road has more potential to increase Nigeria’s GDP and trigger industrialisation, create trade, enhance the transportation of goods and services, and safety of road users.
Considering the unique features of the terrain and the challenges of constructing road in coastal areas, that road will consume a humongous amount of money and human energy, the amount being mentioned is heart wrenching. The road may not be completed any time soon.
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According to Peter Obi, it may take 20 to 30 years to complete. Even if the road were to be completed and importers move goods to Calabar from Lagos only to find out that there are no motorable access roads to other parts of the east from Calabar, then we may not have achieved anything. The whole nation is replete with abandoned projects.
Leadership all over Africa only confer privileges, and no responsibility and that is why anybody can become a leader. I am quite sure that this Lagos to Calabar Expressway, just like Badagry to Sokoto Expressway, will not lead to anywhere.
In September 2022, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors told us that there are 56,000 abandoned projects in Nigeria. That was later confirmed by Nigerian Society of Engineers. Embarking on a project that will not be completed any time soon will only worsen the situation of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.
It is sickening to see what Nigerians go through on our bad roads. With rainy season gradually returning, the conditions of our already bad roads are going to worsen. The true nature of our roads will rear their ugly faces. Nigerians are going to face more harrowing situations without hope of intervention from anywhere.
Government officials are only interested in projects that will put money into their private accounts and not one that will impact on the living conditions of our people. For the past four years, journey to Abeokuta from Ikeja has been a nightmare. A journey of less than two hours now takes a whole day.
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Roads like, East/ West Road, Benin/Auchi/Okene Expressway, Benin/Sapele Expressway, Enugu/Onitsha Expressway, Benin/Asaba Expressway are going to be impassable. Unfortunately, whether we cry from now till eternity, what government wants to do is what they will do. Value or no value. Our leaders don’t listen to constructive criticism.
Leadership all over Africa only confer privileges, and no responsibility and that is why anybody can become a leader. I am quite sure that this Lagos to Calabar Expressway, just like Badagry to Sokoto Expressway, will not lead to anywhere.
Amechi, a trade unionist and pro-democracy activist, writes from Lagos.
