Funsho Doherty, an opposition politician in Lagos State, has joined the call for a probe into the award of the Lagos Calabar Coastal highway project to Hi-Tech Construction Ltd.
Mr Doherty, in a letter addressed to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, called for a probe into the award of the contract.
The letter, dated 11 April, said the award of the contract to Hi-Tech Construction Ltd, a company owned by President Bola Tinubu’s friend, Gilbert Chagoury, violated the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
He stated that the process of awarding the contract without competitive bids was a violation of the law.
It would be recalled that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had equally raised questions over the process of the award of the road.
Mr Doherty, who contested the Lagos State Governorship Election in 2023, asked the two chambers of the National Assembly to launch a probe.
“I therefore hereby call on the National Assembly, in its capacity as representatives of the people and, in exercise of its powers and responsibilities of oversight, to immediately commence an investigation into this project, the FMW and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP),” he said.
In addition, Mr Doherty called for the suspension of the project pending the review of the contract.
“The Coastal Road Project should, in the first instance, be halted and subjected to due process, including competitive bidding as required by the law.
“If offences under the PPA or code of conduct are established in the course of your investigations, we expect that they will be prosecuted and that the consequences provided in the law will be applied to serve as a deterrent,” he said.
Below are the issues he raised on the Lagos to Calabar coastal road which is expected to connect Nine(9) States in the country.
- In such matters process is particularly important and it should involve wide-ranging, good faith consultation and open communication. Wherever feasible, alternative solutions should be explored for particularly injurious situations. This may involve some added time and cost. Recent developments would suggest that more work is needed in this area.
- Some of the properties are owned and operated by businesses that have invested substantial sums, taken commercial risks, and succeeded, contributing to the city, while employing residents and paying taxes. The effect on them, on their employees and on the city should be carefully considered.
- Informal settlements and shanty towns may be considered illegal, but the social and human implications of clearing them, especially on the vulnerable (children, early) cannot be wished away. Mitigating provisions will have to be made.
- Fair and just compensation to owners, whether businesses, urban or rural communities along the entire right of way must go along with compulsory acquisition of properties, including underdeveloped land, if such acquisitions ultimately prove to be inevitable.
- In such a project which is a Federal Project cutting across states, one of the roles that is expected of the Lagos State Government, being a Federating entity, is to serve as an advocate of all its people, especially those that may be adversely affected in one way or another. The Lagos State Governor should be mindful to discharge this trust faithfully and to ensure that it is reflected in project plans.
- As an example, given that it is a PPP, it is expected that the Lagos State Government, on behalf of its residents that will ply the road and pay tolls, would have properly vetted the procurement process to ensure competition in contractor selection and value for money in line with the laws.
He reminded the Commissioner that Lagos State’s aspiration to be a centre of excellence hinges on leading the way in transparency, accountability and deploying the powers of the State with justice and compassion.