HURIWA seeks suspension of Lagos-Calabar road project

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the execution of the controversial Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway until issues of opaqueness, lack of transparency in the award of the project, among other issues are cleared.

The rights group, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said that the administration would muddy its credibility if it continued to push through the hurried execution of the controversial project, particularly at a time high cost of living is threatening millions of citizens.

HURIWA said that the speed with which the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, defends this hurriedly packaged project, as well as attacks on critics of this project, speaks volumes of an administration that has something to hide.

HURIWA also advocated an urgent public television debate on the road project between Tinubu, accompanied by Umahi, and key opposition leaders in Nigeria, such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

HURIWA said that the outcome of the TV debate would help shape public understanding of the fundamental issues surrounding the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway.

The group demanded clarification regarding the source of funds and the nature of the so-called agreement between the government and the private sector in the funding arrangements.