Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says President Bola Tinubu placed his personal business interest ahead of Nigerians with the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.
He said the estimate is based on the N1.06 trillion earmarked for 47.47 kilometres of the coastal highway by Dave Umahi, minister of works. Abubakar said 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, Abubakar said the project only went through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission with no record of competitive bidding because Hitech was to fund the project 100 percent.
“In August 2021, while Buhari was on vacation, it was announced by then Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, that the FEC had “approved the memo for the ratification of the president’s approval for the award” of the $11.1 billion project, and that it would be completed in six years. But nothing was done.”In the statement, Abubakar said the project is expected to lead to job losses, citing a possible demolition of Landmark Beach Resort in Oniru.