Coastal highway probe: Reps to summon Edun, Umahi, AGF

The House of Representatives has announced that it will set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the N15tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. 

The coastal highway project is a 700-kilometre turnpike infrastructure that was approved by the Bola Tinubu administration in February. 

The 10-lane coastal road, designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, would pass through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before culminating in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

The project has attracted both commendation and condemnation. While some have lauded its ambition, others have criticised the process of the award of the contract that led to the emergence of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited as the preferred contractor. Under the project, the construction of the coastal road is expected to span eight years and cost N4bn per kilometre.

The House's decision to investigate the project follows a motion of urgent public importance moved by Mr Austin Achado, a member of the House representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Benue State. The House has also resolved to summon several key officials, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to provide more information on the project.

The procurement strategy of the project may have violated section 40(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, which requires that when a procuring authority adopts a 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. The guarantees issued to cover the debt financing component of the project do not have the approval of the National Assembly.

The resolution of the House to investigate the project has sparked public discourse on the project, particularly on the demolition of structures along the right of way of the project, particularly the hospitality outlets around the Lagos beaches. The government has commenced payment of compensation to some of the businesses affected by the demolition.