The Presidency has reacted to the allegation by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the Lagos – Calabar Coastal highway project, describing him as confused and desperate for the headlines.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had alleged that the award of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal highway project was shrouded in secrecy and over bloated.
Atiku also said the federal government was not open with Nigerians when the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi first announced that the contractor will source for the money and later went to FEC to seek approval for the same project.
But responding to the allegations on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy said in his “Desperation to always want to hug the headlines as a self-appointed opposition leader, Atiku allowed himself to be led into a blind alley again by his poorly informed aides.”
The presidency also stated that the PDP leader is confused because “Contrary to the claims in Atiku’s statement, at no time did the administrations of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan award contracts for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway to any company at any varied and revised amount. So, the question of cost comparison does not arise.
“The contract that was awarded was that of Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail. The rail was designed as part of the standard gauge national rail network. The contract was awarded on August 4, 2021 by the Federal Executive Council presided over by former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the cost of $11.17billion. The contract was to be completed in six years. The project didn’t take off.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail project has always been on the card. It was another testament of the failure of the previous PDP-led government that it could not get it off the ground in 16 years it held sway.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail are two distinct projects. It is unfortunate that the former vice president is confused about the two projects.”
The presidency noted that, “Seeking to be a kill-joy, Atiku Abubakar engaged in red-herring by raising ill-thought-out allegations that only exposed his inadequacies and those of his team in getting the basic facts on an issue he badly seeks to nail the government.
“President Tinubu should be praised for having the courage to embark on this transformative project and not vilified as Atiku Abubakar unsuccessfully sought to do.
“President Tinubu as a leader and nationalist will continue to drive and propel national progress through infrastructural development across the country. We enjoin former Vice President Atiku to act his status as a presumed statesman and desist from engaging in fruitless exercise that does not add any value to nation-building.”
