**Says former Cross River governor’s criticism driven by politics, not facts

***Insists construction has reached Ogun, with works ongoing in Ondo, Akwa 𝙸𝚋𝚘𝚖

The Presidency on Wednesday dismissed former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke’s criticism of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the multi-billion-naira project is progressing beyond Lagos State and describing his remarks as politically motivated.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, said Duke was “arguing against reality” by claiming the highway would not extend beyond Lagos and questioning the project’s priority.

Ajayi was reacting to comments made by Duke during an interview on Arise Television, where the former governor expressed doubts about the flagship infrastructure project, contending that it would not go beyond Lagos State and describing it as a misplaced priority.

In a post on his verified X handle, @TheTope_Ajayi, the presidential spokesman said some opposition politicians were allowing partisan considerations to cloud their judgment and public comments.

“Politics makes a lot of people say loads of what they don’t mean or believe in. They just talk for the sake of talking or because of bad politics. There is actually no sense in arguing against reality,” Ajayi wrote.

He also criticised Duke’s position, arguing that the former governor ignored the progress already made on the project while joining its critics.

According to Ajayi, contrary to Duke’s claim that construction would stop at Epe in Lagos State, the highway has already extended into neighbouring Ogun State, while work is simultaneously underway on sections of the road in Ondo and Akwa Ibom states.

“While Duke was talking on TV that the Coastal Highway won’t go beyond Epe, the project has reached Ogun State, and work is going on in the Ondo and Akwa Ibom sections of the Coastal Road,” he stated.

Ajayi further took a swipe at Duke’s political platform, describing the Peoples Redemption Party as “an unviable political platform,” and suggesting that partisan politics had informed the former governor’s criticism of the project.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway remains one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration.

The coastal corridor is expected to connect several states along Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline, with the Federal Government projecting significant gains in transportation, trade, tourism and regional economic integration.

Despite attracting criticism from some opposition figures over its cost, execution and feasibility, the Federal Government has consistently defended the project, maintaining that it is critical to the country’s long-term infrastructure and economic development agenda.