Falana demands accountability over abandoned N15tn coastal road
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has challenged the government to account for the ₦15 trillion reportedly earmarked for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, while warning political candidates in Lagos to prepare to protect voters against possible electoral violence and ethnic discrimination.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said citizens must demand explanations from public officials over major infrastructure projects and government spending, arguing that the failure to ask questions allows those in authority to act without sufficient accountability.
*Femi Falana
Etim Ekpimah
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has challenged the government to account for the ₦15 trillion reportedly earmarked for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, while warning political candidates in Lagos to prepare to protect voters against possible electoral violence and ethnic discrimination.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said citizens must demand explanations from public officials over major infrastructure projects and government spending, arguing that the failure to ask questions allows those in authority to act without sufficient accountability.
Falana spoke at a public event in a video shared by News Central TV on Monday, questioning the reported alteration of the highway’s route and raising concerns about the project’s funding.
He questioned the reported changes to the proposed coastal highway’s route, particularly the suggestion that sections beyond Ogun State could be constructed by land because of funding constraints.
“The coastal road has now become a land road. After Ogun State, they now say they are going to Edo by land because they cannot fund it,” he said.
Falana demanded clarification on the money reportedly set aside for the project, insisting that Nigerians deserved to know how public funds were being allocated and spent.
“What of the ₦15 trillion earmarked for that road? That is the only way we can hold these people accountable,” he said.
He argued that public scrutiny was essential to ensuring transparency in government projects, particularly those involving substantial public expenditure. He urged citizens to question official decisions rather than allow public authorities to operate without adequate oversight.
Turning to electoral politics, Falana warned candidates in Lagos to prepare for possible violence during future elections, drawing attention to incidents recorded during previous polls.
He urged candidates to work together to protect voters and ensure that eligible citizens could cast their ballots without intimidation, regardless of their ethnic background or state of origin.
“Many people may not be allowed to vote unless you are ready to form a group that will defend everyone’s votes in Lagos,” he said.
Falana condemned attempts to prevent Nigerians from voting because they were perceived not to belong to a particular ethnic group.
“We did not fight for this rickety democracy for someone to look you in the face and tell you that you must not vote in this country,” he said.
He urged political actors to reject thuggery, intimidation and ethnic profiling, stressing that electoral participation should be determined by citizens’ constitutional rights, not their ancestry or appearance.
He also called for stronger civic vigilance, transparency in public spending and collective efforts to protect democratic participation.
Meanwhile, an X (formerly Twitter) user, Jude Heavenly, alleged that the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi has hired 6 SANs and 13 junior lawyers to help defend Tinubu, Chaugaury and Seyi Tinubu in court over the Coastal Road Scam.
https://twitter.com/napoleon401/status/2109543023646306723/video/1
He said they are blocking the court from releasing the details of the contract as requested under the Freedom of Information Bill, as they know the Procurement Act was never followed in awarding the contract.
