Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reroute parts of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway has torn open questions his government has “spent years trying to bury”.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the government must also answer intelligence about a proposed loan of up to $20 billion, reportedly connected to coastal highway payments, and alleged pressure on legislators to approve it.
“Tinubu sold Nigerians a coastal highway. Now his Minister says parts of it will follow an existing road inland. That is not a minor adjustment to a drawing. It strikes at the promise used to sell this enormous project. When the route changes, the price must be opened. When the work changes, the payments must be explained.”
“What kind of government boasts about a coastal highway before it can defend the route? Did Tinubu’s team study the swamps, bridges and flood risks before awarding the contract, or did it sign first and start thinking later? Minister David Umahi should stop offering engineering explanations without the engineering documents. Publish the original studies. Publish the revised design. Let Nigerians see what this government knew and when it knew it.”
Atiku said the episode carried the familiar marks of Tinubu’s style of government: a grand announcement, a changed promise and a bill the public is forbidden to inspect.
“He removed the petrol subsidy without protecting Nigerians from the blow. Families are still paying for that decision every day. Now his government has put a coastal highway plan before Nigerians in the budget, changed parts of it midway and, according to the intelligence we have received, may be preparing to ask the country to borrow billions more. Nigerians have suffered enough from this government’s trial and error. They cannot be made to pay for another changed promise without seeing the accounts.
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“If work on the original route will no longer be done, what has been removed from the contract? How much has already been paid? What is the revised price? You cannot change the work and refuse to change the bill.”
Atiku said the government must give an immediate, public answer to intelligence received about a proposed loan request of up to US$20 billion, reportedly intended to fund payments connected to the coastal highway and Hitech Construction Company.
“Tinubu must answer this himself. Is a US$20 billion request being prepared for the National Assembly? Is any part of that money meant for Hitech? What contract, what section of road and what certified work would justify the payment? Do not hide a contractor’s bill inside a national borrowing request. Publish the proposed loan, the contract it would finance and the record of what has already been paid. If no such request exists, say so plainly and on the record.”
Atiku said intelligence that legislators were being pressured to approve the anticipated request raised an even more disturbing question: whether the government intended to borrow first and permit scrutiny later.
“We are informed that some lawmakers have been warned that funds for their election campaigns will be withheld unless they pass this request with the speed of light. Who is making that threat? Whose money is being promised or withheld? And why should any legislator’s campaign depend on voting to put Nigerians in debt?
“The leadership of the National Assembly must investigate this immediately. Every lawmaker should have the proposed terms, the project accounts and the time to examine both in public. Those facing threats should place them on the record. Tinubu must explain whether his government is seeking approval on the strength of the project or trying to force it through with pressure on legislators. Nigerians deserve that answer before a single vote is taken.”
Atiku demanded publication of the original feasibility and environmental studies, the original and revised route maps, the Bills of Quantities, contract variations, BPP approvals, payment certificates and all borrowing proposals tied to the coastal highway. He called for a public hearing before the National Assembly considers further financing.
“This is the policy inconsistency that has defined Tinubu’s government and made an already severe cost of living crisis harder for Nigerians to bear. Announce a plan. Change it without a full accounting. Then present the public with a bigger bill. When capital spending is hidden from scrutiny, corruption has room to grow and the people suffer more.
“An Atiku administration will budget capital projects transparently, account for every change in scope and cost, and subject spending to independent audit. Nigerians are not against roads. They are against secret bills for changing plans. Tinubu must show the route, show the accounts and show the loan request.
“Enough of grand announcements followed by expensive surprises. Tinubu must go.”
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