Ex-VP alleges pressure on lawmakers to approve borrowing, demands contract details and public hearing

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the Federal Government’s decision to reroute sections of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, demanding full disclosure of contract costs, payments made and a reported $20 billion loan allegedly linked to the project.

Atiku also alleged that lawmakers were being pressured to approve the anticipated borrowing, warning that Nigerians should not be saddled with additional debt without transparency over the purpose, terms and intended beneficiaries of the proposed loan.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to publish the original and revised route plans, feasibility studies, environmental assessments and contract documents for the highway.

He questioned whether the government had adequately assessed the engineering challenges along the original route before awarding the contract, arguing that any significant change in the project’s scope should be accompanied by a clear explanation of its financial implications.

“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,” Atiku said.

“When the route changes, the price must be opened. When the work changes, the payments must be explained.”

He challenged the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to release the technical documents supporting the revised route, including the original engineering studies and updated designs.

Atiku argued that Nigerians deserved to know whether the change was driven by engineering considerations, environmental concerns or other factors, as well as how it would affect the contract price and delivery timeline.

The former vice-president also linked the controversy to the administration’s broader economic policies, accusing the government of imposing additional financial burdens on citizens without adequate safeguards.

He cited the removal of the petrol subsidy as an example of a policy whose consequences, he said, continued to weigh heavily on households.

Atiku further demanded clarification on intelligence he said he had received concerning a proposed loan of up to $20 billion, reportedly connected to payments for the coastal highway and Hitech Construction Company.

He urged Tinubu to state publicly whether the government was preparing such a borrowing request for submission to the National Assembly.

“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?” he asked.

Atiku insisted that the government should disclose the proposed loan terms, the specific contracts it would finance and the payments already made before seeking legislative approval.
He added that if no such loan request existed, the administration should issue an unambiguous statement to that effect.

The ADC chieftain also alleged that some lawmakers had been warned that funding for their election campaigns could be withheld unless they approved the anticipated request promptly. He did not provide documentary evidence of the alleged threats in the statement.

He called on the leadership of the National Assembly to investigate the allegation, urging legislators to demand the relevant financial and contractual records and subject the proposal to public scrutiny.

“Why should any legislator’s campaign depend on voting to put Nigerians in debt?” he asked.
Atiku called for the publication of the original feasibility and environmental studies, route maps, Bills of Quantities, contract variations, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) approvals, payment certificates and borrowing proposals associated with the highway.

He also urged the National Assembly to hold a public hearing before considering any additional financing for the project.

According to him, changes to major infrastructure projects must be accompanied by transparent accounting to prevent cost overruns, waste and potential abuse of public funds.
Atiku said an administration led by him would subject capital projects to transparent budgeting, independent audits and public accountability, with every change in scope and cost properly documented.

“Nigerians are not against roads. They are against secret bills for changing plans. Tinubu must show the route, show the accounts and show the loan request,” he said.

The allegations concerning the proposed $20 billion loan, pressure on lawmakers and the intended use of the funds were claims made by Atiku in the statement. The statement did not include documentary evidence establishing that the loan request or the alleged threats had been verified.