In response to the recent announcement of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project and its funding, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to provide clarity on the full cost and execution details of the project.
Atiku, through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, questioned the transparency of the Tinubu administration in awarding the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding and releasing N1.06 trillion for the pilot phase of the project.
He raised several pertinent questions regarding the project, including the total cost, the decision to fund it with public funds despite being a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and the choice of starting point at Chagoury’s Eko Atlantic.
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Additionally, Atiku queried the substantial amount allocated to the pilot phase, the absence of National Assembly approval for the expenditure, the lack of competitive bidding, and the swift acquisition of design and right of way within seven months by the Tinubu administration.
Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to respond to these questions transparently, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, instead of resorting to insults.
In response, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused Atiku of spreading misinformation about the project and attempting to discredit the initiative.
Onanuga emphasized the project’s transformative nature and criticized Atiku for his purported “desperation to always want to hug the headlines.”
The exchange underscores the ongoing scrutiny and debate surrounding major infrastructure projects in Nigeria and highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
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