Coastal highway: Diri rejects East-West Road merger, tackles Duke

• Says South-South governors insist both projects must proceed
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has rejected any realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway into the East-West Road, disclosing that he told the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that reconstructing the existing road must not replace the coastal project.
Diri said South-South governors were unanimous in supporting the coastal highway as a separate project, insisting that the Federal Government must proceed with it while rehabilitating the East-West Road.
The governor also attacked former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, over his criticism of the coastal highway’s feasibili...