Lagos-Calabar Highway project: “Where Are All the Nigerian construction Engineers?” — APC Chieftain express concerns over Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign contractors

Lagos-Calabar Highway project: “Where Are All the Nigerian construction Engineers?” — APC Chieftain express concerns over Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign contractors 

 

 

 

Cletus Obun, a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised pointed concerns over Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign contractors for key infrastructure projects, particularly the recent awarding of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway to a Chinese construction company.

 

In a recent interview with Daily Trust, Obun expressed disappointment that despite Nigeria’s abundance of trained engineers and technical experts, major national construction projects are still being handled by foreign firms.

 

He pointed to Nigeria’s numerous institutions of higher learning and questioned why their engineering graduates and professors are not leading such pivotal projects.

 

“You are constructing a road from Lagos to Calabar and the people constructing the road are Chinese,” Obun said.

“We have more than 15 universities of technology in Nigeria with professors of engineering, building engineers as graduates and professors. Where are they?”

 

Obun’s comments come amid broader criticism of Nigeria’s infrastructure development model, which has long been dominated by international firms. He cited examples from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where ongoing roadworks are also being carried out by foreign—mostly Chinese—contractors.

 

“Go into Abuja and see those constructing the roads; those who are doing these roads are Chinese. Those who are doing these roads are not Nigerians. Where are the engineers?” he asked.

 

Obun emphasized the need for Nigerian professionals to transition from job seekers to job creators, lamenting the underutilization of local talent in critical sectors. He broadened his critique to include graduates in mass communication, urging them to take initiative and innovate rather than wait for employment opportunities in mainstream media.

 

“I have made the point that nobody who studies mass communication should be looking for a TV station. Can’t you use your hands? Can’t you use your head? Can’t you write? There’s so much to do,” he challenged.

 

Highlighting the role of journalism in addressing national issues, Obun called on young reporters to take on investigative roles, particularly in exposing security threats such as banditry in northern Nigeria. He questioned the apparent scarcity of undercover journalism and its potential to support national security efforts.

 

“How many undercover journalists have we seen? They can even bust a lot of crimes and bandit cells across the country, in northern Nigeria. How many do we have doing that? They must be employed,” he stated.