Coastal Highway: APM campaign council demands full disclosure of contract details

The Presidential Campaign Council of the Allied Peoples Movement has called for complete transparency regarding the procurement process, contractor selection, contract costs, and payment records for the ₦15tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, expressing doubts about transparency, accountability, and the recent realignment of the road.

The council's director-general, Felix Hyat, made this demand during a press conference on Tuesday, following the announcement by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that the highway's route had been altered. Umahi defended the Federal Government's decision to reroute the Ondo section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, stating that the original alignment passed through deep, 100-meter-plus pits, making the diversion necessary for engineering reasons and to ensure the best value for public funds.

Umahi also admitted to receiving complaints about improper route diversion in Ondo State but insisted that the decision was justified.

Hyat criticized the Federal Government for poor planning and alleged procurement irregularities related to the project, urging the government to publish engineering assessments, alternative route analyses, cost implications, and a comprehensive audit of the work executed and funds spent so far. He accused Minister Umahi of denying a presidential directive to realign the highway despite video evidence of the announcement, calling such denial unacceptable for a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The council also raised concerns about conflict of interest in the award of the ₦15tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract, alleging connections between the contractor's corporate group and individuals linked to the Presidency. They questioned the government's silence on the anticipated cost reduction following the rerouting of the Ondo section and demanded full disclosure of contract and payment records, stating that the controversy surfaced amid rising living costs.

They urged the government to ensure accountability and prove that the project served the public interest. Hyat pointed out that the project's conception and award in 2023 lacked a required environmental impact assessment, violating existing laws. He urged Nigerians to evaluate the latest development against the troubling circumstances surrounding the project's conception and award in 2023.