Atiku Says President Tinubu’s Personal Business Ties Is Reason For Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has slammed the federal government for the speedy commencement of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and claimed that President Tinubu’s personal business ties are responsible for the rush on the project.

President Tinubu has come under heavy criticism for his approval of the highway project, as critics reasoned that the government should channel resources into existing roads that are in a deplorable state instead of constructing a new one.

Despite the criticism, the government has proceeded with the project and demolished structures, which it said were blocking its Right of Way.

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Atiku questioned the rush in the project and accused the government of failing to ensure due process in the notification of business owners and residents of areas affected by the demolition.

The former Vice President of Nigeria also alleged that the owner of Hitech, Gilbert Chagoury, who has been contracted to carry out the project, is a close associate of President Tinubu, hence the rush for the project.

Chagoury, a Nigerian-Lebanese businessman, is notable for funding the Eko Atlantic City project in Lagos State through a company he owns in a public-private partnership with the Lagos State government.

In a statement made public by Atiku’s media aide Paul Ibe on Sunday, May 5, 2024, the presidential aspirant said the contract was in contravention of Nigeria’s procurement regulations and warned that such acts is responsible for Nigeria loosing foreign direct investments.

He also claimed that President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, is a member on the boards of companies owned by Gilbert Chagoury, which “constitutes a conflict of interest.”

“Tinubu’s son, Seyi, is a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, which manufactures ceramic tiles and sanitary towels.

“Thanks to quality reporting by Africa Intelligence, our suspicions have been confirmed that Chagoury and Tinubu are indeed business partners and it has been formalized with Seyi on the board of one of Chagoury’s firms.”

President Tinubu is yet to reply to Atiku’s accusations as the highway project hits top gear.