April 8, 2024, Nigeria – In a bold critique aimed at President Bola Tinubu’s administration, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced significant concerns over the awarding process of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project. Atiku, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), highlighted the lack of transparency and competitive bidding in the re-awarding of the project to Hitech Construction Company Limited.
At the heart of Atiku’s criticism is the absence of a Federal Executive Council (FEC) decision or any public disclosure regarding the competitive bidding process for the 700km project. Moreover, the former vice president’s concerns extend to the secrecy surrounding the contract’s financial details, which have not been made public by the Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi.
Labeling the move as indicative of the Tinubu administration’s “penchant for dubious and shady deals,” Atiku’s statement, delivered by his spokesperson Mr. Paul Ibe, casts a shadow on the government’s handling of this significant infrastructure project. The project, which was first announced by Umahi in September 2023, has been touted to come at “zero cost to Nigeria” despite the nation’s soaring debt levels. This was attributed to a public-private partnership model, where Hitech Construction is responsible for funding, building, operating, and eventually transferring the highway back to the Nigerian government after recouping its investment through toll gates.
However, Atiku’s alarm bells rang louder in March 2024 when a memo surfaced at the FEC, revealing a request for approval of N1.06 trillion payable to Chagoury’s firm for the project’s first phase, covering only a fraction of the total distance in Lagos. This revelation has led to staggering calculations, suggesting the per-kilometer cost of the highway could set unprecedented financial benchmarks, raising questions about the project’s overall economic viability and transparency.
This development comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria, grappling with financial constraints and the need for infrastructural development. Atiku’s critique underscores a broader call for accountability and transparency in government dealings, especially in large-scale projects with significant economic and social implications. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway, envisioned to enhance connectivity and boost economic activities across several states, now finds itself at the center of a growing debate over governance practices in Nigeria’s public sector infrastructure projects.
