By Desire Emmanuel
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, October 15, said that the reported comment by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, that the cost of a kilometre of the Coastal Highway project is around N7.5 billion has vindicated his own position.
Atiku had, at various fora, insisted that the project’s cost had been inflated to N8 billion per kilometre, and allegation that was denied then by Umahi who said the cost was around N4 billion.
However, reacting to the minister’s reported comment, Atiku, through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, said he has been vindicated by the reported statement.
Atiku’s aide wrote: “However, the same minister has now done a volte face and admitted that the actual cost is indeed closer to ₦8 billion per kilometre — precisely what Atiku warned Nigerians about.
“This admission not only vindicates the former Vice President’s position but also exposes the Tinubu administration’s lack of transparency in managing one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s history.
“Atiku had earlier questioned both the cost structure and financing model of the coastal highway, describing it as opaque, inflated, and suspiciously designed to benefit vested interests rather than the Nigerian people.”
The former vice president added that the development has reinforced his consistent call for due process, competitive bidding, and transparency in all major public projects, adding that Nigerians deserve openness, not contradictions and concealed deals.
Atiku therefore, called on the Tinubu administration to do the following:
1. Publish the full contractual details, including financing terms and counterpart obligations;
2.Subject the project to an independent value-for-money audit; and
3. Suspend further payments until Nigerians are assured that the project genuinely serves national interest.
