Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has condemned the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as both wasteful and corrupt.
He also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for spending N21 billion on a new residence for Vice President Shettima.
Obasanjo made these remarks in his latest book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled during his 88th birthday celebration last week.
He argued that such projects are unnecessary, misplaced priorities intentionally designed for embezzlement rather than genuine national development or public benefit.
The 700km highway, awarded without competitive bidding to Hitech Construction Company, is estimated to cost N4.93 billion per kilometer.
Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have strongly questioned the project’s transparency, urging accountability and proper scrutiny from authorities.
Assessing Tinubu’s two years in office, Obasanjo claimed corruption remains widespread, with politicians prioritizing personal financial gains over national interests.
He described many Nigerian leaders as ill-prepared, self-centered, and entirely focused on enriching themselves instead of serving the citizens.
He also proposed a new governance model, ‘Afrodemocracy,’ which considers Africa’s political landscape rather than adopting Western liberal democracy.
