In a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, strongly criticized claims made by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration regarding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project. Atiku denounced the assertions made by Works Minister Dave Umahi, describing them as wasteful and suggestive of potential fraudulent activities. Umahi had indicated that the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project might cost approximately N15.6 trillion.

Atiku condemned Umahi's alteration of the project's initial plan, particularly after the contract was awarded to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding. He accused Umahi of misleading the public by initially stating that Hitech would fully fund the project, only to later reveal that Hitech could only raise 6% of the required funds for the pilot phase, calling it deceitful.

Umahi's revelation, during media appearances on select TV stations, regarding the tentative cost of the road project raised eyebrows for Atiku. He highlighted the exorbitant nature of the projected cost, equating it to the combined total budget of all 36 states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Atiku questioned the justification for such a significant financial outlay, especially when there was uncertainty about the federal government's counterpart financing for the project.

Moreover, Atiku expressed concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the project's procurement process. He criticized Umahi for admitting that the project was awarded to Hitech without competitive bidding, questioning the rationale behind such a decision. Atiku emphasized the importance of competitive bidding to ensure value for money and called for accountability in project execution.

Atiku urged members of the National Assembly to fulfill their oversight responsibilities effectively and investigate the dubious nature of the project. He accused the Works Minister of attempting to deceive Nigerians regarding the project's appropriation and funding status. Additionally, Atiku highlighted inconsistencies in Umahi's statements regarding the release of funds to Hitech, raising doubts about the government's transparency and accountability in project management.

In conclusion, Atiku called for greater transparency, accountability, and adherence to due process in government projects and urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their elected representatives.

Naijamatta is a social networking site,

download Naijamatta from Google play store or visit www.naijamatta.com to register. You can post, comment, do voice and video call, join and open group, go live etc. Join Naijamatta family, the Green app.