By Fatima Mukhtar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately suspend further payments for the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, following fresh revelations that the road costs a staggering ₦7.5 billion per kilometre.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his media aide, Phrank Shuaibu, on Wednesday, described the project as “a monumental scandal in the making,” demanding transparency and a full breakdown of the contract details. He insisted that the Tinubu administration must explain how such an astronomical figure was arrived at.
The call came after the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, confirmed during a recent press briefing that the first phase of the coastal highway, covering about 47 kilometres, was valued at ₦7.5 billion per kilometre, a figure that has since sparked outrage among Nigerians and civil society groups.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State also joined in the criticism, describing Umahi’s explanations as evasive. According to a report by ThisDay Live, Makinde argued that “Nigerians deserve to know how their money is being spent,” adding that such lack of clarity undermines public trust.
Further reports by Metro Daily Nigeria and Pointblank News reveal that Umahi had earlier refused to disclose the average cost per kilometre, claiming that the prices varied by section. However, critics insist that even by such standards, ₦7.5 billion per kilometre is excessive compared to previous major road projects across the country.
Atiku maintained that the project’s true cost must be subjected to an independent value-for-money audit, warning that any continued payment without accountability could amount to misappropriation of public funds.
“This is not about politics; it is about public interest,” Atiku said. “Nigerians are suffering, and funds that should be used for education, health, and food security are being sunk into questionable contracts.”
The Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning over 700 kilometres, is one of the Tinubu administration’s flagship projects intended to link major coastal states from Lagos to Cross River. But with rising questions about its cost and award process, the project is now under intense national scrutiny.
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