The Peter Obi Media Office has renewed calls for transparency and accountability over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, questioning government spending, the project’s scope and reports of its truncation.
In a statement, the office said the controversy surrounding the coastal highway had reinforced concerns about government priorities, the management of public funds and the need to ensure value for money in infrastructure development.
The statement recalled that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had previously urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s deteriorating hinterland roads before embarking on the ambitious coastal highway project.
According to the office, Obi’s position was based on the need to direct limited public resources towards projects that would deliver the greatest benefits to the largest number of Nigerians.
It, however, criticised the response of the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, alleging that rather than address Obi’s concerns, the minister resorted to personal attacks against him.
The office said questions surrounding the project’s scope and its reported truncation had made it necessary for the government to provide Nigerians with a comprehensive account of the project’s implementation and expenditure.
“How much money has been spent? What has been completed? Who approved any alterations, and who will be held responsible for any waste or mismanagement established by the evidence?” the statement asked.
The media office maintained that major public infrastructure projects should not be treated as political advertisements, insisting that public funds must be managed transparently and in the interest of citizens.
It called for transparency in the project’s financial records, an independent audit and a clear explanation of its current status, including the extent of work completed and any changes made to the original scope.
The statement further argued that Obi’s position should not be interpreted as opposition to infrastructure development but as a call for responsible prioritisation, prudent spending and accountability in the execution of public projects.
It urged the Federal Government to stop treating criticism and public scrutiny as political attacks, stressing that accountability was an obligation of public officeholders.
“The government must stop portraying legitimate scrutiny as an attack and begin recognising accountability as an obligation,” the statement said.
The office concluded by reiterating its demand for answers on the project, asking why attention had allegedly been directed at the person raising concerns rather than the issues requiring clarification.
It added that transparency in the management of public resources would be a fundamental requirement in the Nigeria it envisions.