Atiku Demands Lagos-Calabar Highway Contract and Payment Records

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to publish the contract documents, payment records and financing proposals relating to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, following reported changes to sections of the project’s route.

Atiku’s demand followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive to reroute parts of the highway through the existing East-West Road. In a statement issued on Monday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council, Atiku said the changes raised questions about the original contract, payments already made and the financial implications of the revised alignment.

Quick Takeaways

Atiku wants the Federal Government to publish the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract and payment records.
He questioned how the reported route changes would affect the original contract and overall project cost.
He alleged that the government might seek additional borrowing linked to the highway, but the supplied statement does not establish that a loan request has been formally made.
He called for the release of feasibility studies, environmental assessments, route maps, bills of quantities and contract variations.
He also urged the National Assembly to hold a public hearing before considering any additional financing for the project.

Why Atiku Wants the Highway Records Released

Atiku argued that changing sections of the highway’s route should be accompanied by a clear explanation of the contractual and financial implications.

He questioned what would happen to work removed from the original plan, how much had already been paid to contractors and whether the revised alignment would alter the project’s total cost.

“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 said.

The ADC presidential candidate also questioned whether the government had adequately explained the financial consequences of the route changes before proceeding with the revised plan.

His demand centres on whether the original contractual obligations remain applicable to the affected sections and what adjustments, if any, have been made to the scope of work and associated costs.

Atiku Questions Possible Additional Borrowing

Atiku alleged that the Federal Government might be preparing to seek additional borrowing to finance payments connected to the coastal highway.

However, the statement cited in the report does not establish that such a borrowing proposal has been formally submitted, approved or made public. The allegation remains Atiku’s claim unless confirmed by official documents or statements from the relevant authorities.

He linked his concerns to the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that Nigerians should not face further financial burdens without access to records showing how public funds are being spent.

“Now, his government has put a coastal highway plan before Nigerians in the budget, changed parts of it midway and, according to the intelligence we have received, may be preparing to ask the country to borrow billions more,” he said.

Atiku maintained that the public should be able to examine the financial arrangements behind major infrastructure projects, particularly where changes to the original plan could affect the cost of construction.

Documents Atiku Wants the Government to Publish

The former vice-president called for the release of documents that would help clarify the original project design, contractual obligations and payments made so far.

His requested disclosures include:

The original feasibility studies.
Environmental studies and assessments.
Route maps showing the original and revised alignments.
Bills of quantities detailing the planned construction work and associated costs.
Contract variations and amendments.
Approvals from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
Payment certificates and records of amounts already paid.
Any borrowing proposals connected to the highway project.

These records, if released, could help clarify what work was originally contracted, what changes have been made and how those changes affect the project’s financial requirements.

Atiku argued that the government should explain the revised cost and account for payments already made rather than leave questions about the contract unanswered.

“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,” he said.

Atiku Calls for National Assembly Public Hearing

Atiku also urged the National Assembly to organise a public hearing before considering any additional financing for the highway.

He argued that lawmakers should have access to the relevant contractual and financial information before considering a borrowing proposal associated with the project.

The proposed hearing is part of Atiku’s broader demand for public scrutiny of the highway’s contractual arrangements and the financial consequences of the reported route changes.

The supplied report does not confirm that the National Assembly has scheduled such a hearing or that an additional financing proposal is before lawmakers.

Background: The Reported Highway Route Change

The latest dispute follows a directive by President Tinubu to reroute sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway through the existing East-West Road.

The reported change has prompted questions about how the revised alignment will affect the original project plan, the work covered by the contract and the overall cost.

Atiku described the development and the possibility of additional borrowing as examples of what he considers policy inconsistency under the Tinubu administration. He said the government should account for the financial implications of project changes rather than expect Nigerians to bear additional costs without adequate scrutiny.

His comments are political criticism and should be distinguished from independently verified findings about the contract or the government’s financing plans.

The supplied report does not include a response from the Federal Government addressing Atiku’s specific requests for the contract documents, payment records and any proposed loan.

Accountability Questions Still to Be Clarified

The central issue raised by Atiku’s demand is whether the contractual and financial records will provide a clear account of the highway project following the reported route revision.

The key questions include:

What changes have been made to the original contract?
How much has already been paid for work connected to the affected sections?
What work has been removed, retained or revised?
Has the project’s total cost changed, and, if so, by how much?
Is any additional borrowing formally being considered for the highway?
What procurement approvals and payment records are available for public scrutiny?

The answers would require relevant contract documents, payment records and official statements from the responsible authorities. Atiku has called for their publication and urged lawmakers to hold a public hearing before considering any additional financing.

For now, his demand places the focus on disclosure of the project’s contractual arrangements and financial implications. Whether an additional loan is formally proposed, and what the revised project accounts show, remain questions that require documentary or official confirmation.

TAGS: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar