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The Labour Party’s nominee for president in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to give priority to repairing current roads rather than building a coastal motorway, citing the possibility that the latter project may take up to three decades to finish.

Mr. Obi had concerns about the coastal superhighway project’s timing and priority in a message posted on his official Twitter account, given the large number of unfinished roads in the nation. He underlined the urgent need for action to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of citizens and brought attention to the critical issue of crumbling roads endangering Nigerians.

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“The Federal Government must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure crucial for the well-being and safety of our society before embarking on new projects, no matter their perceived benefits,” Mr Obi stressed.

He made the point that because of inadequate and haphazard funding, several important roads that are necessary for regional connection and economic growth have been under construction for years, if not decades. Mr. Obi cited particular roads that are still unfinished and pose a risk to public safety as well as impeding growth in different parts of the nation.

“The Federal Ministry of Works’ 2024 capital budget, alongside additional funding from multilateral loan projects and other sources, will not be enough for serious work on all critical roads, let alone their completion,” Mr Obi remarked.

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He issued a warning not to exacerbate the issue of unfinished and abandoned projects that do not advance economic growth and general development, stressing the importance of setting priorities and exercising financial restraint when allocating resources.

“In any development formula, the primary focus should be on completing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal new projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years,” Mr Obi concluded.

Mr. Obi’s remarks are made in the midst of continuing discussions and arguments on the coastal motorway project, in which various parties have voiced differing views regarding its viability and advantages.

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The recommendation that the renovation of current roads be given priority is in line with the thoughts of many Nigerians who are still struggling to overcome the obstacles brought on by the nation’s shoddy and inadequate infrastructure.

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