Former Nigeria Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, accused Bola Tinubu of conflict of interest, because his son, Seyi, was on the board of CDK who were in charge of the project.
The CDK Integrated Industries, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group is owned by one of the Tinubu’s business allies, Gilbert Chagoury.
Atiku said the development constituted a conflict of interest, given the Chagoury Group’s involvement in the gigantic Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project being carried out by the Tinubu government.
The former vice president had criticised the contract as hurriedly awarded and executed against the country’s procurement laws.
Atiku disclosed that CDK Integrated Industries was into the manufacturing of ceramic tiles and sanitary towels.
Citing a report by a Paris-based Africa Intelligence News Agency, where it was revealed by the Corporate Affairs Commission that Seyi was officially a business associate of Chagoury, Atiku said it was not surprising that the Chagoury Group had become the biggest beneficiary of the Tinubu largesse.
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Atiku restated that it had become obvious even to the undiscerning that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was being done in a hurry because of the business relationship between Tinubu and Gilbert Chagoury, the owner of Hitech, the contractor that was awarded the contract for the highway project in alleged contravention of the procurement laws.
In his words, “Thanks to quality reporting by Africa Intelligence, our suspicions have been confirmed that Chagoury and Tinubu are indeed business partners and it has been formalised with Seyi on the board of one of Chagoury’s firms.”
“It is on record that this project is the most expensive single project ever embarked upon by the Nigerian government. The fact that it is happening at a time Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis ever is a red flag.
“To add insult to injury, this project that is being done in excess of $13bn was awarded without a competitive bidding. From all indications, the so-called Badagry-Sokoto highway would be awarded in a similar fashion at an enormous cost to taxpayers purely because Tinubu has put his personal interest ahead of the Nigerian people.”
Atiku further stated the demolition of tourist and recreational facilities and other properties within the Oniru corridor, without ample notice, was one of the reasons foreign direct investments have continued to elude the country.
ToHe argued that rather than improving the ease of doing business, the Tinubu administration had shown to the world that his personal business interest and that of his family would always be prioritised over and above national interest.
