Nigerian lawmakers probe controversial Lagos-Calabar highway project

The House of Representatives have resolved that its Committees on Works and Public Procurement should probe the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project to ascertain if procedures were followed in the award of the contract.

Penpushing reports that the lower chamber, on Thursday, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Austin Achado (APC, Benue) noted that the 700 km coastal highway, projected to cost N15 trillion, is to transverse eight states, starting from Lagos and terminating in Cross River.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmaker moving the motion, highlighted the potential gains of the road project but raised some concerns, and equally focused on the procurement process of the project, stating that it possibly violated the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act.

‘The Procurement Strategy may have violated the Public Procurement Act 2007, section 40(2) which requires that where a procuring authority adopts to use restrictive tendering approach, it should be on the basis that the said goods and services are available only from a limited number of suppliers and contractors and as such, tenders shall be invited from all such Contractors who can provide such goods and services’, he said.

Penpushing also reports that Achado raised concerns about the Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Finance (EPC+F) funding model adopted by the government for the project, adding that the funding model has not been approved by the National Assembly.

‘The contingent liabilities accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria on this project violate the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act of 2023,” he noted while explaining the implication of the EPC+F’, he emphasised.

‘Section 22(3) of the Debt Management Office (Establishment) Act of 2023 states that the Minister shall not guarantee an external loan unless the terms and conditions of the loan shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by its resolution’, he stated

Penpushing reports that the lawmaker urged the House to set up a special committee to investigate the project, while Hon Uyime Idem of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa-Ibom State moved an amendment for the project to be referred to the Committee on Public Procurement, which he heads.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker explained that his committee already received several petitions on the project, while his amendment was subsequently adopted by the House.

Penpushing further reports that Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmaker Hon Isiaka Ibrahim moved an amendment for the House Committee on Works to be included, while the amendment was also adopted.

Meanwhile, many have lauded the ambitious project, others faulted the process of the award of the contract that led to the emergence of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited as the preferred contractor, while among notable personality who faulted the process was a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

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