By Deji Ayodele
Hon. Oghene Egoh
The Former federal lawmaker, Hon. Oghene Egoh, who represented Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, has condemned the recent comments made by former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, against the Federal Government’s initiative on the construction of the Lagos–Calabar coastal road.
Egoh made the condemnation during an interview with our reporter, in Lagos, on Monday.
He described Amaechi’s remarks as unfair and unpatriotic, noting that the project is a major step towards boosting economic growth and national integration.
He said that Amaechi, who also served as governor of Rivers State, had ample opportunity while in office to implement similar transformative projects but failed to do so.
According to Egoh, “Amaechi did not do enough while he was in office as Minister of Transportation.
He had the chance to deliver projects that could benefit the South-South region but instead focused on railway linking Nigeria to the Niger Republic, leaving many communities in the Niger Delta underserved.”
He stressed that the Tinubu administration’s decision to embark on the Lagos–Calabar coastal road construction is a historic move that will stimulate commercial activities between Lagos and the South-South region, strengthen inter-state relations, and enhance the movement of goods and people.
“The coastal road will not only open up trade but also foster unity and economic cooperation among states along the corridor. This is what true nation-building looks like,” Egoh said.
He further applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s transformation agenda, emphasizing that the current administration is taking bold decisions that previous governments could not implement.
He cited the removal of fuel subsidies as a tough but necessary reform that will yield long-term economic benefits despite its short-term hardships.
Egoh called for patience from Nigerians, noting that economic reforms take time to stabilize.
“Hunger in the land is real, but with the right policies, the situation will improve.
“We are already seeing prices of some food items, like rice and tomatoes, beginning to drop. The same will happen with other essential commodities over time,” he said.
The former lawmaker highlighted that Tinubu’s government is also prioritizing food security through initiatives aimed at empowering farmers, boosting local production, and reducing dependence on imports.
“With these measures, Nigeria will not only feed itself but also export to other countries in the near future,” he said.
Egoh urged political leaders to put aside personal differences and support policies that will benefit Nigerians at large.
He stressed that constructive criticism should be based on facts and the national interest, not political rivalry.
He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, stating that history will remember the current administration as one that took bold steps to secure Nigeria’s economic future.