Presidency knocks Donald Duke over Lagos-Calabar Highway comment

The Presidency has rejected claims by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Donald Duke, that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will terminate at Epe in Lagos State, insisting that construction has already progressed into Ogun State.

According to the Presidency, the former Cross River State governor’s remarks were politically driven and did not reflect the actual progress of the project.

Duke, who served as governor of Cross River State between 1999 and 2007 and was the Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate in the 2019 election, had reportedly questioned whether the highway would extend beyond Lagos.

Responding to the criticism, the Presidency described the comments as misplaced and lacking factual basis.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, said the former governor was disregarding the realities on the ground by suggesting that the project would end in Lagos and by challenging its relevance.

In a post shared via his verified X account, Ajayi said: “Former Governor Donald Duke, who wants to become President on the banner of an unviable political platform, has also joined the chorus of those saying the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will not go beyond Lagos State.

“I think politics makes a lot of people say things they don’t mean or believe. They just talk for the sake of talking or because of bad politics. There is actually no sense in arguing against reality.

“While Duke was saying on TV that the Coastal Highway won’t go beyond Epe, the project has reached Ogun State, and work is ongoing on the Ondo and Akwa Ibom State sections of the coastal road.”