Precious Nwonu, Enugu
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on Nigerians to demand explanations from the Federal Government over the estimated ₦15tn cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, raising concerns about reported changes to the project’s route.
Falana also urged political parties and candidates in Lagos State to work together to prevent electoral violence and voter suppression ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He made the remarks at a public event in a video shared by News Central TV on Monday.
Questioning the reported route changes, the lawyer argued that the project, initially planned as a coastal highway, appeared to be extending inland in some sections.
“The road, coastal road has now become land road, I’m sure you are aware,” Falana said.
He questioned the rationale behind the reported realignment and called on the government to explain how the funds allocated to the project would be spent.
“What I’m saying is that, after Ogun State, they now said they are going from Edo to go by land, because they can’t fund it. Again, we must now ask questions: What are the 15 trillion naira earmarked for that road?” he asked.
Falana said public scrutiny was necessary to ensure that government officials accounted for the use of public funds.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a major infrastructure project of the President Bola Tinubu administration, designed to link Lagos with Calabar, Cross River State, along Nigeria’s southern corridor. Its estimated cost, funding and route have generated public debate.
Beyond the highway project, Falana expressed concern about the possibility of violence and intimidation during the 2027 elections, particularly in Lagos State.
He urged candidates across political parties to establish a common platform to protect voters and ensure eligible citizens could exercise their constitutional rights.
“Let me now warn the candidates: Going by what happened during the last election, violence will be introduced. Many people will not be allowed to vote, unless you guys are ready to form, regardless of your political parties, to form a group that will defend the vote of everybody in Lagos,” he said.
The lawyer warned against using ethnicity or perceived place of origin to deny people the opportunity to vote.
“We didn’t fight for this rickety democracy, that somebody will look at your face: ‘Oh, you should not vote in this country,’” he said.
Falana alleged that politicians unable to win elections could resort to thuggery and violence, urging candidates to defend the voting rights of all eligible residents regardless of their ethnic background.
“And I want to beg you, if you are ready to defend the vote of everybody, and it’s very important, because those who cannot win elections, resort to violence, thuggery, where you come from, that you don’t look like a Yoruba man, therefore you must not vote. In Lagos, in Nigeria, that must not be allowed,” he added.
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