The ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has resulted in the demolition of properties belonging to prosperous enterprises and suffering Nigerians. This has angered the advocacy group for public procurement, Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD).
Remember how the $200 million Landmark Beach Resort was demolished to make room for the project, which is expected to cost the Federal Government N15 trillion, causing uproar along the 700-kilometer coastal highway?
However, according to NEFGAD, the project’s improper procurement diligence and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were the primary causes of the destruction.
As a result, the organisation urged the President to either scrap the project or launch a thorough investigation into the procurement procedure.
NEFGAD attacked Works Minister Engr Dave Umahi in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Country Head, Mr. Akingunola Omoniyi. The statement called the procurement and execution procedures “mere procurement abracadabra,” deviating from accepted procurement standards and common sense.
Akingunola voiced concerns about the procurement process’s secrecy, which resulted in Hitech Construction Company—a Mr. Gilbert Chagoury-owned conglomerate—being awarded the contract.
NEFGAD demanded a strict procurement procedure to guarantee sustainability and cost-effectiveness due to the project’s size and complexity.
Mr. Akingunola contended that these components were missing, making the project unsuitable for its intended use.
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The recent announcement by Umahi to scale back the project from ten lanes to six lanes after work had already started was denounced by NEFGAD.
This choice, according to Mr. Akingunola, is yet another serious procurement irregularity that has to be addressed.
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