Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the approach of Works Minister Dave Umahi towards the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing it as wasteful and potentially fraudulent.
In a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku expressed his disapproval of Umahi’s recent claim that the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project would tentatively cost N15.6 trillion. Atiku questioned the validity of this cost estimate, emphasizing that it far exceeds the total budget of all 36 states in Nigeria combined.
Atiku also raised concerns about the initial plan of the project and accused Umahi of altering it after awarding the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding. He criticized Umahi’s inconsistency regarding the financing model of the project, highlighting the shift from public-private partnership (PPP) to government funding.
Moreover, Atiku questioned the transparency of the project’s budget allocation, pointing out discrepancies between the approved budget and the actual funds released. He urged members of the National Assembly to fulfill their oversight responsibilities and investigate the matter thoroughly.
Additionally, Atiku accused Umahi of misleading the public regarding the release of funds to Hitech, citing conflicting statements made by the Works Minister on television programs.