NewStats: 3,261,087 , 8,173,011 topics. Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 08:02 AM 27221p

Atiku knocks Tinubu over secrecy in Lagos-Calabar highway project


Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has raised issues with the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway which has recently been approved for implementation, saying that the decision to award it to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company Limited (Hitech) allegedly highlights the Bola Tinubu istration’s “penchant for dubious and shady deals.”

He made the observation in a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, where he recalled that the Goodluck Jonathan istration had in November 2014 the contract for the same 10-state, 22-station project with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at a cost of $11.97 billion.

Noting that the istration left office before it could implement it, Atiku said that the succeeding istration of President Muhammadu Buhari had reviewed it downwards by $800 million to $11.1 billion with a three year completion period even though it continued to stall.

Atiku said the award of the contract for the project to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company Limited (Hitech) was without any record of a competitive bidding or a decision by Federal Executive Council (FEC).

According to him, minister of Works, Dave Umahi refused to reveal how much the project would cost as he only explained that it would run through nine states and would have a rail road running through the middle.

The statement affirmed the minister’s remark that it would come at zero cost to Nigeria, adding:

“The concept of the project was build, operate and transfer, meaning that Hitech would construct the road, operate it for some years and then recoup its money through tollgates before handing it back to the Nigerian government.

“Because the project did not require public funds, it did not go through approval from the National Assembly, which holds the power of appropriation. Also, the project only went through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) with no record of a competitive bidding since Chagoury’s firm was to fund the project 100%.

“However, to the shock of many Nigerians, Umahi returned to FEC with a memo in March 2024 seeking the approval of N1.06 trillion that would be paid to Chagoury’s firm for the first phase of the project which is wholly in Lagos.

“This pilot phase was to begin from the edge of Chagoury’s Eko Atlantic City on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, and terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Ibeju-Lekki, a distance of 47.47km. Till date, the Tinubu istration has refused to reveal how much the project will cost in total. Umahi, who even came on Channels Television recently, evaded questions as to the total cost of the project.

“But if 47.47km costs about N1.06tn, it means each kilometre is being built at N22.5 billion or $18 million. For a project that is going to be 700km, it means the total cost could be N15.7 trillion or $12.56 billion, which is higher than previous estimates.

“It is curious that the of such an audacious project continues to be shrouded in secrecy. Worse still, it is expected to lead to job losses like the demolition of Landmark Beach Resort in Oniru which will lead to the loss of over 12,000 direct and indirect jobs and over $200m in investments according to its management.”

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, expressed reservation that the entire first phase of the project begins and end in Lagos State where the state government had earlier planned a similar project, accusing President Tinubu of placing his personal business interest above national interest.

The statement added: “More curious is the fact that the entire pilot phase of this project begins and ends in Lagos, especially within the axis of Bola Tinubu’s business interests. It is no secret that both Tinubu and Chagoury are business partners.

“This same Hitech, owned by Chagoury, was unable to complete the 50km Lekki-Epe Expressway. Despite installing two tollgates along the axis, Hitech which was part of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) consortium was only able to construct about 20km, forcing the Lagos State Government to buy it back at the cost of N7.5 billion ($50 million at the time) in 2013 which came at a loss to the people of Lagos.

“Tinubu has once again put his personal business interest ahead of that of the Nigerian people in violation of his oath of office where he swore that “I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions”.

“The so-called pilot phase from Eko Atlantic to Lekki Deep Sea Port was initially conceived as a Lagos State Government project but because of its huge cost coupled with the fact that Lagos State has a huge debt burden no thanks to Tinubu, the Federal Government is now implementing it under the guise of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This perhaps explains why there are fears that the project will never get to Calabar, and this is the same reason the project is beginning from Lagos and not Calabar.

“Despite not revealing the cost of this entire project, the Tinubu istration is now on the verge of setting up a so-called Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, a fund targeted at constructing capital projects without the usual budgeting process.

“With a target of N20 trillion or $14.5 billion as seed capital, the fund targets the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and other projects. The initiative targets Pension Funds, Concessionary Loans, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, private sector arms of multilateral development institutions, and bilateral private sector investors, among others, to secure $35bn annually. The Diaspora funding and equity and endowment funds are also expected to play their part in the plan.

“But this renewed hope fund, which will be spent at the discretion of Tinubu and without transparency, will likely become another means of siphoning public funds through shady projects. With the current Lagos-Calabar highway already being handled in secrecy, it remains to be seen how such a fund will be managed.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/atiku-knocks-tinubu-over-secrecy-in-lagos-calabar-highway-project/

Tinubu is no doubt the most corrupt human to ever lead Nigeria. Everything about him reeks of corruption.

Atiku should go and rest please!

Someone who had 8 years to make a name for himself, but was busy looting at all corners!

If Atiku had made a name for himself, he won’t even need the attention he is craving. Now he has the loots but has lost reputation, credibility and trust.

Atiku should channel his energy into cat fish farming.

He should learn from Osinbajo. Man made a name for himself and would be welcomed anytime.

Nigerians knows Tifnubu as a greedy thief adicted to primitive wealth acquisition yet they allowed him to become president.

Hi

Personal interest revolving around the territory of Nigeria is very patriotic. Tinubu is not wrong here....when buhari was developing Niger Republic which was very wrong where was Mr. Ibe and his Oga? Abeg make we hear word.....Tinubu please go on and carry the south along .

Atiku is making some valid points

Tinubu is no try at all?

Meanwhile yabatech part-time form is now out to close 15th of may,if interested call
Zero eight one two four zero six four three five three

Atiku- The man that may never be president.

K

Atiku, yh the analyst

That project fit cost 100 trillion

90 trillion na for Tinubu

Knocks what?

It's only Africans I see writing idiotic headlines like this. Can't you get better words for your title?
Why do African and mostly Nigerian editors use archaic words in their headlines?

Knocks. woos. and other rubbish sounding words.

Just need 5million from that money and I will be fine....

If you see the guys (small boys) you argue with here on nairaland in physical, you will be extremely angry with yourself for stooping so low. Boys like yarimo and helinues.

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Election loss is mes Atiku's brain.

Th ought the whole length cost 1 trillion. It is just lagos section

Atikunand clout chasing na 5&7

Noted.

MIMOSAXY:
Atikunand clout chasing na 5&7

when high-tech is involved

watch how Palliative bandits will be defending their oppressor on social media

Some people can't be saved .

i noticed most palliative bandits on this forum are attacking the messenger while ignoring the message..
what do you expect from a set of people that ed Buhari for eight years but today vilify him..

Truth be told

Stupid Atiku that openly declared he will sell NNPC to his friends? Someone that took over Intels and nearly bought over Nigeria when he was a vice president? Shut your mouth!

Atiku

Should

Rest

MrOkenwa:
Atiku- The man that may never be president.

He ought to have been in 2019 had he not betrayed GEJ. We reap what we sow.

Morbeta11:

https://tribuneonlineng.com/atiku-knocks-tinubu-over-secrecy-in-lagos-calabar-highway-project/

If Good luck istration awarded it at $11.9b USD in 2014, and Tinubu's istration is doing it at $12.56 billion,.. Are prices of materials the same from 2014 till date. Lets even start with price of cement. Atiku Mekano should be objective in his criticism! This is not objective and intelligent of him at all..

Another attention-seeking MOFO.