Group tells critics to keep politics out of infrastructure devt  

The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) has demanded an independent audit of the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, accusing the President Bola Tinubu administration of inadequate planning and a lack of transparency in its execution.

Also, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, called on Nigerians to demand accountability from the Federal Government in the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar highway, questioning reported changes to the project’s route.

However, a group, Ndigbo for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027 Forum NDI-ABAT, yesterday, urged the critics of President Bola Tinubu on the highway, especially former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to look beyond partisan differences and assess the decision in the context of national development.

MDPCO also called on the Federal Government to publish all procurement and payment records relating to the highway, along with engineering assessments, the cost implications of the recent route realignment, and a comprehensive account of the amount spent so far.

The Director-General of MDPCO, Felix Hyat, at a briefing yesterday, described the controversy surrounding the project as a test of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in managing public resources.

Hyat said the decision to realign part of the highway, as announced by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, raised questions about the adequacy of the project’s original design, the assessment of environmental challenges, and the process through which the contract was awarded.

He argued that the development warranted a fresh examination of the project’s technical and financial foundations, particularly given its reported cost and the country’s competing infrastructure needs.

While stressing that the organisation was not opposed to road construction, Hyat said the circumstances surrounding the realignment raised concerns about whether sufficient engineering and environmental assessments were conducted before work commenced.

He also questioned Umahi’s subsequent denial of an earlier announcement that Tinubu had directed the realignment, insisting that video evidence of the minister’s statement contradicted the denial.

The campaign director-general maintained that the Federal Government owed Nigerians a clear explanation of the reasons for the route adjustment and its implications for the project’s overall cost.

Falana expressed concern that the coastal highway, initially designed to run along Nigeria’s coastline, has now been redirected inland in some sections, raising questions about the project’s original plan and funding.

He made the remarks in a video shared by News Central, in which he also urged Nigerians to defend their votes in the 2027 general elections, regardless of their political affiliation.

According to Falana, citizens’ failure to demand explanations from public officials has contributed to a situation in which those in authority act without sufficient accountability.

He said: “Because we are not asking questions, anybody does what he likes in Lagos and the country. The coastal road has now become a land road. I am sure you are aware.”

The senior advocate further questioned the rationale behind the reported route changes.

In a statement obtained by The Guardian in Abakaliki, the National President of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that “the relevant question to ask is whether the realignment is technically justified, financially responsible and capable of delivering lasting benefits to Nigerians.”

The group expressed support for the Federal Government’s decision to reroute sections of the highway and connect them to existing road networks, particularly the East–West Road, describing it as one that should be assessed on its engineering merits, cost implications, long-term durability, and benefits to Nigerians.

It urged Atiku and other critics to look at the bigger picture and avoid turning an important infrastructure decision into a political controversy.

The group maintained that the government must prioritise public safety, prudent spending and durable construction when making decisions about major road projects.