By Seyi Babalola
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, stated on Sunday that the Nigerian government was “only expediting action on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway due to the business ties between President Bola Tinubu and Gilbert Chagoury, the owner of Hitech.”
Chagoury is the contractor in charge of the roadway project.
Atiku claimed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract was obtained in breach of procurement procedures.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku claimed that Tinubu’s son and allies serve on the boards of Chagoury-owned firms, indicating an obvious conflict of interest.
Atiku further stated that Tinubu’s son, Seyi, serves on the board of CDK Integrated Industries.
According to the former Vice President, rather than “enhancing the ease of doing business, the Tinubu government had allegedly demonstrated to the global community that his business endeavours and those of his family would consistently take precedence over national interests.”
Atiku stated that the project, valued at more over $13 billion, was granted without competitive bidding.
Atiku claimed that the project being done with more than $13 billion was awarded without competitive bidding.
Atiku also claimed that the “so-called’ Badagry-Sokoto highway would be awarded similarly at an enormous cost to taxpayers purely because Tinubu had put his interest ahead of the Nigerian people.
Atiku said the demolition of tourist and recreational facilities and other properties within the Oniru corridor, including parts of Landmark, without ample notice, “is one of the reasons foreign direct investments continue to elude the country.”
He added that in more orderly environments, “establishments like Landmark would have been provided with a minimum of two years’ notice to facilitate proper planning.”
