The people of Imo State have reacted over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project of 700kms roads being executed by the Federal Government to the tune of N15trillion.
They said it is a huge waste of resources and not what Nigerians need at the moment.
Imolites made their stand known on Monday during the phone-in Programme of the Peoples Assembly on Hot Fm Radio.
They averred, ” This project is not what Nigerians need at the moment; it is not one of our pressing needs. The Federal Government got it all wrong concerning the project this time that there is gnashing of teeth among Nigerians. How can they take up such massive contract when we have other pertinent projects that are on standby, suffering and wanting lots of attention or palliative care.
“We are crying that there is no money in Nigeria, but see how much that has been allocated to just one project; N15trillion – the money is too much, and can be used to comfortably execute 5 or 6 other projects that can cushion the effect of the economy on the people.”
One of the people gave an instant of why the money is on the high side saying, For instance Cairo-Egypt to Johannesburg 10,228kms roads was constructed at $1.6billion but Nigeria is spending $13billion just to put up 700kms road. Who is really fooling who?
“Is now looking as if they are trying to syphon money for 2027 elections as the rush with which the Ministry for Works, Dave Umahi is going about the project breeds lots of suspicious.
“Mr Peter Obi, when he said it’s not what Nigerians need at the moment, was right and was not being trialistic, but was speaking the mind of the people.
“Also the way and manner the project was secretly awarded to a Hitech Constuction Company Ltd (the Chagoury Group is the firm’s parent company) owned by a billionaire, who has a personal relationship with the President, as his son; Seyi Tinubu is a director on the board of CDK; a subsidiaries of the Chagoury Groups is truly questionable. It was just awarded to the company without the normal procedure of a bidding process open to Nigerians both locally, and internationally for a project of such gigantic nature.
“It was initially supposed to be a Private Public Partnership, PPP affair but turned over night to a fully Federal Government funded Project, which we cannot tell why it was so.
“The disheartening fact about this whole situation is that the National Assembly has been mute about the issue, which is not suppose to be,’the people lamented.
They therefore called on the Federal Government to look into the matter, retrace their step, and focus on prioritizing on projects and programmes that can ease the suffering of the masses.
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