According to Vanguard, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election of 2023, has expressed his disapproval of the assertions that the administration led by President Bola Tinubu has made concerning the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project. Atiku rejected the remark made by Works Minister Dave Umahi that the 700-kilometer highway could potentially cost N15.6 trillion. In a statement that was posted by his media office in Abuja on Thursday, Atiku referred to the statement as being wasteful and suggestive of dishonest objectives.
As a means of expressing his worry, Atiku brought attention to the extravagant nature of the projected cost, comparing it to the whole budget of all 36 states that make up the federation for the year 2024. He placed a strong emphasis on the scandalous nature of the situation, particularly in light of the fact that the contract had already been given without sufficient knowledge of the counterpart financial component provided by the federal government.
As a result of the remarks made by the former Vice President, there is a growing level of suspicion regarding the viability and transparency of significant infrastructure projects that are being undertaken by the present administration. The critique offered by Atiku highlights broader concerns over fiscal responsibility and accountability in government expenditures, and it resonates with existing arguments concerning the management and governance of Nigeria’s economy.
He said, “The total budget of all 36 states of the federation for 2024 stands at about N14 trillion. If you add that of the FCT, the entire budget of all sub-nationals is N15.91 trillion. This is scandalous. Worse still, they have already awarded the contract but are still not sure of the level of the counterpart funding component of the federal government!
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