By Ishaya Ibrahim
Nigerians have trashed the Coastal Highway project of the federal government after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar exposed Seyi Tinubu as a board member of the contracting firm, Hitech Construction Company.
Seyi Tinubu is the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is listed as a director of Hitech, a company owned by his father’s friend, Gilbert Ramez Chagoury.
The company was awarded the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal road contract against the government procurement policy, according to Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said Seyi Tinubu is a director of CDK Integrated Industries, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group which owns Hitech, constituting a conflict of interest.
The statement reads: “The former Vice President noted that Tinubu’s son, Seyi, is a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, which manufactures ceramic tiles and sanitary towels.
“Citing a report by Paris-based Africa Intelligence News Agency where it was revealed by the Corporate Affairs Commission that Seyi is officially a business associate of Chagoury, the former Vice President said it was not surprising that the Chagoury Group had become the biggest beneficiary of the Tinubu largesse.
“Thanks to quality reporting by Africa Intelligence, our suspicions have been confirmed that Chagoury and Tinubu are indeed business partners and it has been formalized with Seyi on the board of one of Chagoury’s firms,” Atiku was quoted as saying in the statement.
He also accused President Tinubu of rushing to award the contract for the road, saying the country has other pressing needs to address.
“The awarding of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway was rushed; the environmental impact assessment report was not even completed; the right of way for the 700 km stretch of the highway project was not secured; it was converted from a PPP to a government-funded project within the twinkle of an eye,” he said.
“The N500m that was approved by the National Assembly for the project was ignored, while over N1tn was released by Tinubu’s administration without approval from the National Assembly.
“To add insult to injury, this project that is being done in excess of $13bn was awarded without a competitive bidding.
Atiku also faulted the demolition of Landmark Resort.
“Investors are seeing how local businesses are being treated and will not come to a place where their investments will not be protected.
“In saner climes, businesses such as Landmark would have been given at least two years’ notice in order for effective planning. But Tinubu’s eagerness to satisfy his business partners impaired his ability to coordinate the project properly.”
@kuwait_magixsaid: “Na Seyi Tinubu and Chagoury Dey benefit from Coastal Highway Scam project. But na @aonanuga1956 wey no see Shishi chop Dey defend the scam.”
@joseph_ebuka3 said: “Seyi Tinubu is involved in the Coastal Highway project and they are telling you to pray so that God will change the condition of the nation. Keep playing with your future because of tribal!sm and ethn!c b!gotry, if nothing is done the stone age will be better than Nigeria.”
@Franeb said: “Seyi Tinubu is sitting pretty on the board of Chaghoury’s company HiTECH. But it’s me that has to pray for Tinubu to succeed? This is why that whole conversation vexed my spirit. This Man has planted his people and waited for this moment his whole life.”
@HiikyaaTor said: “As a trained quantity surveyor, giving jobs to friends from the client is a clear conflict of interest. This is sad if what Atiku is saying concerning Seyi Tinubu been on the board of Chagoury Group. What are we teaching our children? Are we going to share jobs to friends or do authentic competitive bidding?”
@Mkaypapi said: “That project is never about development but purely business.”