Tackling Insecurity More Critical Than Coastal Highway – Peter Obi
Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has emphasized that addressing Nigeria’s deepening insecurity crisis is a more urgent and impactful priority than investing in infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Speaking during a recent media engagement, Obi expressed concern over the federal government’s focus on the multibillion-naira highway project at a time when citizens across various regions face life-threatening security challenges. He argued that no infrastructure project, no matter how ambitious, can bring meaningful development if the safety of lives and property is not guaranteed.
“Infrastructure is important, yes, but there can be no economic growth or foreign investment without security,” Obi said. “Today, farmers can’t go to their farms, students can’t go to school in many parts of the country, and ordinary Nigerians live in fear. If we don’t tackle insecurity first, then even the best roads will lead us nowhere.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, estimated to cost over ₦15 trillion, is one of the largest infrastructure projects embarked upon by the current administration. However, critics like Obi believe the project is ill-timed and misaligned with the country's most pressing needs. He noted that the funds could be better used to strengthen national security architecture, invest in intelligence gathering, and support displaced communities.
Obi pointed to the escalating insecurity in the North, the persistent violence in the Southeast, and the growing cases of kidnapping in the Southwest as evidence that Nigeria is in urgent need of comprehensive security reform. He called for better training and equipping of security forces, increased community policing, and a collaborative effort between the government and citizens to build trust and restore order.
“It is time we set our priorities right. Nigeria’s problem isn’t just about poor roads or lack of infrastructure—it is about lives being lost daily,” he stressed.
Obi’s remarks have resonated with many Nigerians who have long felt neglected by political leaders focused more on legacy projects than the real conditions on the ground. While infrastructure remains vital for long-term development, Obi's call highlights the growing demand for a government that first secures its people before embarking on grandiose ventures.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising insecurity, Obi’s message is clear: a secure nation is the only foundation on which true development can be built.
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