The African Democratic Congress candidate for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Niyi Akingunola, has accused the Federal Government of breaching procurement and appropriation laws in the alleged rerouting of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Akingunola stated that any alteration to the approved route, design, or cost during implementation must follow required procedures, including obtaining fresh approvals. He emphasized that the original design had undergone procurement procedures, including a certificate of no objection by the Bureau of Public Procurement and budget approval by the National Assembly.
Akingunola argued that varying a project's design and cost without recourse to the National Assembly that approved it is outright illegality. He noted that a new Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation Environmental Impact Assessment and cost estimate must be regenerated and sent to the BPP for onward transmission to the National Assembly for reappropriation. According to Akingunola, anything short of this is a breach of the Appropriation Act and extant procurement regulations.
The ADC candidate questioned the explanation of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that the original route crossed terrain with pits more than 100 meters deep, which would significantly increase construction costs. Akingunola maintained that such challenges should have been identified during feasibility studies and reflected in the project's engineering and cost documents. He emphasized that the highway could boost Ondo State's economy through agriculture, food security, tourism, and industrial development.
Akingunola urged residents of Ondo State and their representatives in the National Assembly to demand compliance with relevant laws and ensure that the state's interests are protected. He called on Umahi to ensure strict compliance with legal and regulatory procedures governing the project. The controversy arose after Umahi explained that President Bola Tinubu directed that the highway's continuation from Ondo into Edo State should use the existing East-West Road rather than a new alignment.
Umahi defended the engineering decision, citing difficult terrain and construction costs, while insisting that the Federal Government has not abandoned the 750-kilometer coastal highway project. The minister stated that surveying and design work was continuing on sections where major construction had yet to begin. He emphasized that the project was still on track, despite the controversy surrounding the rerouting.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project aims to boost economic development in the region. Akingunola noted that the project could improve access to ports and wider markets, thereby enhancing the state's economy. He stressed the need for the Federal Government to follow due process in the project's implementation.
The ADC candidate's allegations have sparked a controversy over the project's implementation. Umahi's explanation has been met with skepticism, with Akingunola and others demanding compliance with procurement laws. The project's fate remains uncertain, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Key points
- The ADC candidate, Niyi Akingunola, accuses the FG of breaching procurement laws in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway rerouting.
- Akingunola demands compliance with legal and regulatory procedures governing the project.
- The project's implementation has sparked controversy over procurement laws and engineering decisions.
