𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞, 𝐎𝐛𝐢 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐆 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭

Oyo gov accuses FG of poor planning, technical incompetence, lack of transparency regarding coastal highway route change

Ex-Anambra gov seeks independent audit of project, says ‘Nigerians deserve transparency’

Emeka Agu Jnr with agency reports

The Makinde-Daura presidential campaign organisation (MDPCO) and the Peter Obi Media Office have criticised the Federal Government on the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway as well as cost of the project.

The Makinde-Daura presidential campaign organisation (MDPCO) and the Peter Obi media office leveled the criticisms in separate statements on Tuesday.

While the Makinde-Daura presidential campaign organisation (MDPCO) accused the federal government of poor planning, technical incompetence, and a lack of transparency regarding the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, the Peter Obi media office called for an independent audit of the project.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Felix Hyat, director-general of the Makinde-Daura presidential campaign organisation (MDPCO), said the route change announced by Minister of Works, David Umahi, exposed flaws in the conception and execution of the N15 trillion project.

Recall that Umahi had on Monday said the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway be re-routed through the existing East-West road from Ondo into Edo state.

The minister said the decision was informed by flooding challenges along the East-West road, particularly around the Ughelli axis in Delta state, adding that it was intended to prevent the construction of a new alignment along the corridor.

Hyat said the realignment amounted to an admission of “technical incompetence, failure of proper planning and gross underestimation of the project’s engineering challenges”.

He also questioned the federal government’s explanation that climate change and environmental challenges necessitated the route adjustment, noting that the development raised concerns about whether the required environmental impact assessment had been conducted before the project commenced.

“It only confirms that the Tinubu administration embarked on this huge project without the required statutory environmental impact assessment in gross violation of our extant laws,” he said.

The former minister of state for aviation further faulted the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract in 2024, alleging that it was awarded without an approved engineering design, a transparent and competitive bidding process, or budgetary provision and statutory appropriation by the national assembly.

The politician raised concerns over an alleged conflict of interest involving the corporate group linked to the company handling the project, calling for greater scrutiny of the contract award and contractor selection.

He said the federal government had yet to explain the expected reduction in project costs following the route change to an existing road, describing the silence as a matter of financial accountability.

Hyat demanded the immediate publication of all relevant procurement and payment records, an independent engineering assessment of the Ondo realignment, and a comprehensive audit of the project’s total costs, amounts spent to date, and the plan for further execution.

“We urge Nigerians to reject president Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, the president having not demonstrated the acumen to govern, and having failed in his campaign promises, thus plunging the nation into an unprecedented economic crisis,” he said.

Hyat described Seyi Makinde, presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), as the “only viable alternative, whose leadership prowess, as encapsulated in the reset Nigeria, offers a compelling vision for national renewal”.

Calling for an independent audit of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, the Peter Obi Media Office said Nigerians deserve transparency in the handling of the project.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Idris Zekeri, spokesperson for the Obi media office, said the audit was necessary given questions over the project’s scope, expenditure and current status.

Zekeri said Nigerians deserved answers on the amount spent on the project and any changes made to its original plan.

The statement reads: “When Peter Obi urged the government to rehabilitate Nigeria’s deteriorating hinterland roads before advancing an ambitious coastal highway, his position was unambiguous: public resources should be directed toward projects that provide the greatest benefit to the largest number of Nigerians.

 “Instead of addressing these concerns, the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, responded by attacking him. Now that questions have emerged regarding the project’s scope and its reported truncation, Nigerians are entitled to clear answers.

“How much money has been spent? What has been completed? Who approved any alterations, and who will be held responsible for any waste or mismanagement established by the evidence? Public projects are not political advertisements, and public funds are not private property.

“Nigerians deserve transparency, an independent audit, and a clear account of the project’s present status.”

Zekeri said Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former governor of Anambra State, did not oppose infrastructure development but had called on the government to prioritise projects based on their benefits to Nigerians and value for money.

He urged the Federal Government to treat calls for accountability as legitimate concerns rather than political attacks, asking, “Why target the messenger when the message calls for answers?”