The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has stated that criticisms of the Lagos-Calabar Super Highway by Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar are not only hypocritical but also motivated by ambition and cheap political calculations.
On Wednesday, Umahi speaking through his Special Adviser (Media) in Abuja, Hon Uchenna Orji, accused Atiku of using false analogies to undermine the procurement process that resulted in the award of Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
He stated that the former Vice President criticized the project award and cost, claiming that the firm chosen to execute the contract was based on ignorance.
In particular, Orji responded to allegations made by Atiku regarding the awarding of the contract to Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited based on the personal connection between the President of Nigeria and the Chairman of Hitech, Chagoury, and the rushed nature of the demolition exercise, which was seen as endangering foreign investment.
In his statement, he expressed that these accusations, or rather viewpoints, are, to say the least, baseless, self-serving, and politically motivated to imprint malice in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public, especially the gullible.
The statement continues, “The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Dr. Nweze David Umahi CON, has in different media fora decapitated the insinuations of the former Vice President and other desperate persons when he gave insights into the award process, the unit cost comparisons, the project review dimensions, the demolition notices and compensation plans as well as those affected by the demolition.
“For the avoidance of doubt, th Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project complied 100% with the provisions of the Procurement Act and was awarded based on the EPC+ F procurement process, that is to say, the project is an unsolicited bid done on EPC+F.
“Under this model of procurement, the investor provides all the designs, part of the financing and construction, while the FGN pays counterpart funds...
