Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated President Bola Tinubu’s choice to reroute elements of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway has torn open questions his authorities has “spent years trying to bury”.
In a press release issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku stated the federal government must additionally reply intelligence a couple of proposed mortgage of up to $20 billion, reportedly related to coastal freeway funds, and alleged strain 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 stated the episode carried the acquainted marks of Tinubu’s model of presidency: a grand announcement, a modified promise and a invoice the general public is forbidden to examine.
“He eliminated the petrol subsidy with out defending Nigerians from the blow. Families are nonetheless paying for that call on daily basis. Now his authorities has put a coastal freeway plan earlier than Nigerians within the finances, modified elements of it halfway and, in accordance to the intelligence we’ve got acquired, could also be making ready to ask the nation to borrow billions extra. Nigerians have suffered sufficient from this authorities’s trial and error. They can’t be made to pay for an additional modified promise with out seeing the accounts.
“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 stated the federal government must give a direct, public reply to intelligence acquired a couple of proposed mortgage request of up to US$20 billion, reportedly meant to fund funds related to the coastal freeway 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 stated intelligence that legislators had been being pressured to approve the anticipated request raised an much more disturbing query: whether or not the federal government meant to borrow first and allow scrutiny later.
“We are knowledgeable that some lawmakers have been warned that funds for his or her election campaigns can be withheld except they cross this request with the pace of sunshine. Who is making that menace? Whose cash is being promised or withheld? And why ought to any legislator’s marketing campaign rely 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 unique feasibility and environmental research, the unique and revised route maps, the Bills of Quantities, contract variations, BPP approvals, cost certificates and all borrowing proposals tied to the coastal freeway. He referred to as for a public listening to earlier than the National Assembly considers additional financing.
“This is the coverage inconsistency that has outlined Tinubu’s authorities and made an already extreme value of residing disaster tougher for Nigerians to bear. Announce a plan. Change it with out a full accounting. Then current the general public with an even bigger invoice. When capital spending is hidden from scrutiny, corruption has room to develop and the folks undergo extra.
“An Atiku administration will finances capital initiatives transparently, account for each change in scope and value, and topic spending to impartial audit. Nigerians will not be in opposition to roads. They are in opposition to secret payments for altering plans. Tinubu must present the route, present the accounts and present the mortgage request.
“Enough of grand announcements followed by expensive surprises. Tinubu must go.”
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