Former senator Ben Murray-Bruce has challenged former Cross River State governor Donald Duke to explain his criticism of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, recalling that Duke previously praised the vision behind the project.
Murray-Bruce’s challenge followed Duke’s recent questioning of the feasibility of extending the highway beyond Epe, Lagos, which the former governor described as a misplaced priority given Nigeria’s economic realities and competing demands on public funds.
In a post on X on Friday, Murray-Bruce said the criticism conflicted with his recollection of a joint trip they made along the coastline where the highway is now being constructed.
“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,” he wrote.
The former lawmaker acknowledged the enormous financial implications of the project but argued that the cost of major infrastructure should be considered alongside its potential long-term benefits.
“Yes, the Coastal Highway is expensive. We agree on that. But nothing of lasting value in this world is cheap or free,” Murray-Bruce said, adding that major national projects often require substantial investments to serve future generations.
He defended President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the highway, arguing that the administration was pursuing the project as promised. He also maintained that construction was progressing to international standards.
Murray-Bruce further cited remarks by Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, whom he said had commended the highway, as evidence of support for the infrastructure project.
However, the former senator acknowledged Duke’s right to criticise government policies, while suggesting that his presidential ambition could be influencing his position.
“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,” he said.
Duke’s objection centres on whether the coastal highway represents an appropriate use of public resources under current economic conditions, particularly as the government faces competing expenditure demands.
Murray-Bruce, by contrast, argued that the scale of the investment should not, by itself, be grounds for rejecting the project, comparing its potential long-term significance with the costly investment that made space exploration possible.
The exchange has brought the debate over the highway into sharper focus, setting the question of its affordability and immediate priorities against arguments for long-term infrastructure investment. Both positions reflect a wider disagreement over how the federal government should balance present economic pressures with major development projects
