A former Bayelsa East Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has defended the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, faulting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke, over his criticism of the road’s cost and feasibility.

Murray-Bruce, in a post on his X handle on Friday, said he was surprised by Duke’s position, recalling that the former Governor of Cross River had previously praised the vision behind the project.

PUNCH Online reports that Duke had questioned the economic viability of the highway, describing it as a misplaced priority amid Nigeria’s financial challenges.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television in Thursday, Duke said the country could not afford the project and expressed doubts about whether it would extend beyond Epe, Lagos State.

“I’ll bring this up. Take the Lagos-Calabar highway. I know the country cannot afford it,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the difficult terrain in Bayelsa State, arguing that constructing the highway through its swampy areas would require numerous bridges and significantly increase costs.

“You cannot build a road on the coast from Lagos to Calabar. I mean, you can’t even go through Bayelsa. Bayelsa is swamp. Even Yenagoa, the capital, is swamp. You’ll probably have to build about 100 or 200 bridges to go through those swamps,” Duke said.

The former governor argued that the Federal Government should prioritise rehabilitating existing roads and investing in electricity and healthcare instead of committing scarce resources to the project.

“There is already a road to Calabar. I’ve driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it,” he said, adding that the money earmarked for the coastal highway could be better spent on electricity and healthcare.

Responding to the criticism, Murray-Bruce acknowledged the high cost of the project but argued that major infrastructure investments required substantial funding to deliver long-term benefits.

“My dear brother Donald Duke, some years ago, you and I travelled along the stretch of the coastline where this road now runs, and I clearly remember your praise for the vision behind it. That is why your recent comments surprised me.

“Yes, the Coastal Highway is expensive. We agree on that. But nothing of lasting value in this world is cheap or free. Great nations are built by leaders willing to make bold, costly investments that will serve generations yet unborn,” he stated.

Murray-Bruce also dismissed concerns about funding for the highway, insisting that Tinubu was fulfilling his commitment to finance the project.

“Mr President committed to funding this project, and he is keeping that commitment. There is no funding shortfall. The work is progressing, and the quality of construction is second to none,” he said.

The former senator further defended Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who had supported the highway, against Duke’s description of him as a “local champion”.

“When Governor Douye Diri commended the road, he was not speaking as a local champion; he was speaking as a statesman who recognises infrastructure of international standard when he sees it. I agree with him completely,” Murray-Bruce wrote.

He acknowledged Duke’s right to present his views to Nigerians as a presidential aspirant but cautioned against criticising projects of national importance for political advantage.

“Donald, I understand that you are running for president, and that your statement is political. That is the nature of the season, and I respect your right to make your case to Nigerians. But we must be careful never to undermine a project of national importance, or the President delivering it, simply for political advantage,” he added.

Comparing the highway to the United States’ historic moon mission, Murray-Bruce argued that costly projects could still be necessary for national development.

“When mankind went to the moon, it was neither cheap nor free. But it was necessary. So is this road,” he said.