Paul Ibe, media aide to presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, publicly challenged the Tinubu administration on Thursday, demanding a clear, nation‑wide plan, cost breakdown and financing details for the 750‑kilometre Lagos‑Calabar coastal highway after Works Minister David Umahi said the project would be designed and costed section by section.
What is the core issue?
Ibe highlighted that construction on the Lagos‑Calabar coastal highway began without a single, comprehensive engineering design covering the entire route. He argued that while different sections may require distinct designs, the government must still present a coordinated route plan, credible funding sources and a definitive timeline for completion.
What does Ibe request from the government?
He called on the ministry to publish:
- The overall route map and sectional designs;
- Detailed cost estimates for each segment and the total project;
- Procurement records and environmental approval documents;
- Compensation obligations to affected communities;
- The financing arrangements already secured and those still pending.
"Mr Minister, publish the coordinated route plan, sectional designs and costs, procurement records, environmental approvals, compensation obligations and financing arrangements," Ibe wrote in his X post.
Why is the timing of construction under provisional approval controversial?
Ibe noted that work had already started under a provisional environmental permit while detailed assessments were still being carried out on a segment‑by‑segment basis. He warned that the government could not claim credit for completing the entire highway while offering only piecemeal explanations.
What is Ibe’s main argument about public spending?
"Nigerians are not asking every kilometre to look alike. We are asking the government’s explanations to add up," he said, adding that public money deserves a clear plan rather than a moving target.
The criticism comes amid growing public scrutiny of large‑scale infrastructure projects in Nigeria, where transparency over budgeting, procurement and environmental compliance is increasingly demanded by civil society and opposition figures.
What are the next steps?
Ibe urged the ministry to respond promptly with the requested documents, emphasizing that accountability is essential for the effective use of taxpayer funds and for maintaining public confidence in the Tinubu government’s development agenda.