A former senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has lauded the Federal Government over the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Murray-Bruce heaped plaudits on the Nigerian government after paying a visit to the construction site of the project on Tuesday morning.

“Today, I visited the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction site with my good friend, the former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke,” he said.

“The project is truly magnificent and unlike any other. Upon completion, it will undoubtedly be recognized as one of the greatest infrastructure wonders of our time.”

Murray-Bruce also described critics of the ongoing 700Km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as enemies of progress who “should not ply the road when it is completed.”

“This is why it is surprising that some disgruntled people are opposing this project. I would suggest that such enemies of progress should not ply the road when it is completed and stick to the old long treacherous routes,” he said in a video he shared on his X page on Sunday.

READ ALSO: Lagos-Calabar Highway: Peter Obi hits Tinubu’s government over ‘misplaced priority’

His praise is, however, in sharp contrast with the comments of former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi on the project.

Obi last Tuesday hit out at President Bola Tinubu’s government over the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Obi in a post on his X handle questioned the Federal Government over the construction of the Highway, calling it a ‘misplaced priority’.

“Lagos-Calabar Highway: FG adamant on a Misplaced Priority. Contrary to reason and the necessity for compassion in public policy, the federal government has commenced the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project,” Obi wrote.

“The outcry against this project has been overwhelming due to the current situation in the country.

“The sight of this insensitive demolition is heart-wrenching. Livelihoods are being wiped away, lifetime investments are being wasted, and jobs are disappearing as bulldozers roar through. The homes of the elderly are being overturned by the power of bulldozers.”

READ ALSO: Peter Obi concerned over cost of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

Minister of Works, David Umahi, during his address at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos State accused Obi of inciting the people of the Southeast, especially the uninformed against President Tinubu’s administration.

“When you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is what he has done,” Umahi said.

“I think he is inciting some of the south-east people that are not well informed. He is inciting and getting them into trouble and he does not go to fight for them.

“Wisdom is a defence. It gives light to those that practice it. I want our people to have wisdom because I am involved.”

The Federal Government last Wednesday began the payment of N2.75 billion as compensation to the people whose properties were demolished due to the project.

The National Leader of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described as a ‘violation of citizens’ rights,” the deportation of Osun indigenes from Lagos State.

It was reported on Saturday that the Lagos government implemented the deportation of Osun indigenes from the state, with police officers picking Osun indigenes from various parts of Ajah, TBS and Lagos Island.

Obi in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, said the action was distasteful because of the far-reaching effects it would have on national cohesion and development.

He added that every Nigerian, irrespective of his or her state of origin or place of residence, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

“Let us always remember that we are all Nigerians, united by a common destiny,” he stated, noting that it is Nigeria’s collective duty to uphold the values of unity, fairness, and justice, and to stand against any form of discrimination or injustice.

“Our constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen the right to reside and find livelihood in any and every part of the federation,” Obi added.

The former Labour Party’s presidential candidate said the deportation does not just concern the people of Osun State “but for all Nigerians who uphold the principles of unity, fairness, and justice.

“As a pan-Nigerian advocate, I vehemently oppose any form of discrimination, injustice, or violation of our citizens’ rights.”

Obi however, called for calm pending the outcome of the investigation ordered by Osun State government.

“Together, let us strive for a Nigeria where every citizen is accorded dignity and respect, regardless of their background or place of origin or residence. A new and different Nigeria is indeed possible! Let us strive towards it in unity,” he added.

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A pro-democracy movement, The Democratic Front (TDF), has commended governors of states in the South South region for throwing their weight behind the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

This, it said, is in spite of the fact that the majority of the governors have a political affiliation, which is different from that of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mr Danjuma Mohammed and Secretary, Mr  Wale Adedayo, the group argued that the recent show of support for the initiative was an indication that the South South governors are pro-development

It said: “It’s our joy, as stakeholders and watchdogs of Nigeria’s democratic process, to appreciate the patriotic action jointly displayed by governors from the South South geo-political zone under the aegis of the BRACED Commission on the ongoing construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“Their action in endorsing the project is significantly remarkable in view of the fact that the governors, with the exception of one of them, are members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the same political party as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who continue to make uncharitable and uncomplimentary comments about the coastal highway in recent times.

“The positions being canvassed by the former Vice President  and his co-traveller, Peter Obi of the Labour Party,  we view as unpatriotic, myopic, and selfish.as patent antagonists to the laudable project smacks of morbid perfidy to demean the genuine efforts of President Bola Tinubu to open up the coastal region.

“The huge and inexcusably appalling deficit in Nigeria’s infrastructural development has been of major concern to well-meaning citizens and many economic experts. It is also a statement of fact that the dilapidation and collapse of critical infrastructure in the country has led to a high level of unemployment, poverty, disease, and other uncontrollable social vices that have impeded the growth of the nation in the last 45 years. These things are of common knowledge that should not be lost on anyone wishing to aspire to the presidency.

“It is therefore incomprehensible that a former Vice President and a former state governor, who were on record to have canvassed for votes in the last presidential elections, with a strong promise to deliver infrastructural development if elected, would dramatically take an uninformed and incoherent position against a project of immense socio-economic potentials and infrastructural benefits to Nigeria, like the ongoing Coastal Highway.

“By their unguided utterances and uninformed analysis on the project, both men, due to myopic political reasons, have exhibited personal prejudices against the determination of President Tinubu to improve the deplorable economic condition of the people of the Niger Delta region.

“And more disturbing is the fact that their misguided position on the coastal project suggests a hidden agenda that could see them twarth the effort by any means possible. What are they really afraid of? These anti-development and anti people posture is beyond any reasonable expectation. Because they would not envision such a lofty project, talk less of embarking on it does not stop and can not stop this  project.

“If anything, we believe that the South-South Governors have proven, by their support for the Tinubu project, that they are not as self-centered, vision less, and unpatriotic as the two 2023 presidential flag bearers.

“The Democratic Front is of the view that the South-South geopolitical zone deserves the current level of economic and infrastructural priority accorded it by the Tinubu administration, as a result of its significant contributions to the economy of Nigeria.

“We therefore call on the governors to withdraw political support for Atiku Abubakar, especially, on the basis of his continuous opposition to the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.”

TDF noted that the Highway as well as the approval for the Sokoto-Badagry Highway were clear manifestation of the administration’s determination to open up the Nigerian space for multiple economic opportunities through multi-modal transportation system.

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The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has commended the Nigerian Police Force for arresting an alleged fake medical doctor.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman, NMA Lagos, said the arrest will strengthen the association’s fight against quackery in the medical profession.

Olowojebutu explained that medical quackery was a dangerous practice that posed a threat to the well-being of citizens and the delivery of quality healthcare in the state, and country.

“The arrest is a welcome development for the health sector; we would expose these quacks and ensure that Lagos does not suffer further morbidity and mortality from their nefarious activities.

“We are glad that our work on anti-quackery has started yielding progress as we are determined to weed out quacks from the medical profession,” he said.

The chairman pledged that NMA Lagos, with the support of the Ministry of Health, Health Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, and police, would eradicate quacks from the state.

According to him, the association would hold an anti-quackery summit soon, after which it would present a white paper to the Lagos State Government on anti-quackery.

Olowojebutu warned hospitals to refrain from employing staff whose certificates and licences had not been verified by the MDCN to safeguard the health of the populace.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, on May 7, announced the arrest of a 37-year-old medical practitioner with suspected forged certificates at Skylink Medical Centre, Elepe-Ikorodu.

The police said they arrested the suspect, who claimed to be the managing director of the health facility, based on intelligence gathered by the command through members of the Elepe community concerning the activities of the suspect.

The police recovered two suspected forged certificates of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, after searching for the facility.

The hospital complex was subsequently sealed, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.