The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) has demanded a full investigation into the controversial ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, accusing the Federal Government of failing to meet transparency and accountability standards.
The demand was made by the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, in a statement issued on Thursday after the board reviewed issues surrounding the massive infrastructure project.
Wabara said the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had allegedly failed to follow due process in the award and execution of the project.
The PDP BoT criticised the government for awarding the contract without what it described as an approved engineering design, environmental impact assessment, competitive bidding process and legislative approval.
According to the board, the decision to realign parts of the highway due to climate change and environmental concerns showed that the project may have started without proper planning and assessment.
“The Board holds that awarding the contract and mobilisation of funds without National Assembly approval, due process and proper environmental impact assessment is a gross abuse of office,” Wabara said.
The opposition party’s leadership also accused the government of keeping Nigerians in the dark over the project, saying major national infrastructure should not be handled without public scrutiny.
It urged the Federal Government to open the project to accountability and allow investigations into alleged violations of procurement and approval processes.
However, the administration has continued to defend the coastal highway as a major infrastructure project aimed at boosting transportation, trade and economic growth across the country.