Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has demanded a complete audit of the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway venture, accusing the Federal Government of elevating recent questions on its planning, procurement and value following the current realignment of the route.
It additional mentioned Nigerians deserved to know why the route was modified, how a lot had been spent and whether or not the Federal Government would scale back the contract sum, warning that the controversy had deepened issues over accountability within the dealing with of public funds.
Briefing newsmen, APM Director-General, Felix Hassan Hyat, additionally urged Nigerians to reject President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and assist Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM.
Hyat faulted the reason by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that local weather change and environmental challenges necessitated the realignment, arguing that the event raised questions on whether or not enough technical and environmental assessments had been performed earlier than the venture was awarded.
“The vague reasons of climate change and environmental challenges adduced by Minister Umahi at this point, beg the question,” Hyat mentioned.
The organisation additionally alleged that the contract was awarded in 2024 with out an authorized engineering design, an open and aggressive bidding course of or budgetary provision and statutory appropriation by the National Assembly.
It additional questioned the connection between the contractor’s company group and one other agency whose board allegedly consists of people linked to the Presidency, elevating issues about attainable conflicts of curiosity.
The group additionally alleged that the venture was designed as a conduit for financing the All Progressives Congress’ election bills. The assertion supplied no supporting proof for the allegation.
Demanding full disclosure, the organisation known as for the publication of procurement and fee information, an unbiased engineering evaluation of the Ondo realignment and a complete audit of the venture’s complete value, expenditure thus far and execution plan.
“We demand that the President Tinubu-led government should publish the relevant engineering assessment, alternative-route analysis, accompanying cost implications and comprehensive audit of the work and amount so far spent,” the organisation mentioned.
It maintained that it was not against highway building however questioned the precedence given to the coastal freeway whereas a number of present federal roads remained in poor situation.
“Nigeria is in dire need of infrastructure, no doubt, but not opaque contracts and expensive excuses!” Hyat declared.
The organisation urged Nigerians to vote in opposition to the President in 2027 and rally behind Makinde’s RESET NIGERIA agenda.
It described Makinde as a substitute succesful of constructing consensus throughout celebration and regional divides, insisting that the nation’s future ought to take priority over the President’s political ambition.
“The future of Nigeria must take precedence over President Tinubu’s personal ambition,” Hyat mentioned.
