Works Minister Confirms Tinubu’s Lebanese Ally, Chagoury Got Lagos-Calabar Road Contract Without Competitive Bidding, Says Project To Tentatively Cost Over N15Trn

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said that the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project will cost a tentative sum of N15.356 trillion and that the project will be completed in eight years.
The minister said this when he was featured on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme on Thursday.

Umahi also said that the contractor handling the project, Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company Limited (Hitech) did not do any competitive bidding for the project, rather, the contract was awarded to the company based on its track record, not on sentiments as being insinuated in some quarters.

When asked for clarifications on the cost of the project, how it was approved in line with the Public Procurement Act and if due process was followed, Umahi said, “I don’t understand what you mean by due process. Yes, due process was followed. People are concerned about whether it was appropriated for, and I say yes.
“In the 2024 Appropriation, you will find Lagos-Calabar coastal road and it is appropriated for. In appropriation and procurement, what is in the appropriation may not necessarily be what is in the procurement but the most important thing is that it is appropriated for and it followed due process.

“The due process is that we did our in-house evaluation of what we submitted. Some people said that this project is PPP (Public–private partnership), it is not PPP. It is EPC+F, which is Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Finance. In EPC+F. There is a commitment in terms of funds from the Federal Government, depending on the negotiation.”

On the bidding process of the project as the contractor handling the project, Chagoury, has a close relationship with President Bola Tinubu, the minister said, “I am an engineer. I work by reality and not by sentiment.

“In the procurement act which is a law, you are allowed as a ministry to invite contractors that have special skills in a particular kind of work and negotiate with them and give out the job to them. We did that on the Third Mainland Bridge project.

“When it comes to the coastal road, we looked at the problem of ocean surge and the pedigree of the companies that have the capacity and track record of doing that, we looked at the Eco Atlantic in Lagos and remembered how Hitech was the only company that was able to solve the problem of flood that was taking of Victoria Island.

“They (Hitech) have the pedigree and track record of the ability to contain the ocean surge problems. They also have a proven track record of reinforced concrete road pavement.”

On the cost of the project, Umahi who earlier said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar did not understand figures, noted, “If you use a dollar to N1,200, his argument comes up to about N19 billion per kilometre. A standard carriageway is 11.55 metres, which is 7.3 inner shoulder of 5.3, outer shoulder of 2.75. We used this 11.55 to do our analysis.”

When asked the exact amount the project will cost the Nigerian government under the EPC+F arrangement and the completion period of the project, the minister said, “We are looking at eight years, life tenure of Mr. President.”

He said tentatively, the cost of the project is about N15.356 trillion but added that “I cannot append my signature to that because it can come down and it can go up depending on the situation.

“It is going to be a tentative figure. I am proud of myself that this project is the most prudent project that I’m starting.”

SaharaReporters on September 24, 2023 reported how the multi-billion firm awarded the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Hitech Road Construction Company, a subsidiary of Hitech Construction Company was owned by a Nigerian-Lebanese developer with alleged criminal records, Gilbert Chagoury.

Hitech is a division of the Chagoury Group, a business conglomerate owned by Chagoury, a known business partner of the Nigerian President, Tinubu.

Eko Atlantic in Lagos is also the brainchild of the businessman.

Years back, Chagoury was banned from getting a visa on terrorism grounds for allegedly funding a political coalition, Hezbollah, which the United States deems a terrorism group.

He was also in the past accused of drug dealings by the US and Lebanese governments.

The Los Angeles Times, which did a deep dive on Chagoury — in its August 30, 2016 edition, said that Chagoury’s visa troubles likely stem from his support of a Christian Lebanese politician.

The politician, Michel Aoun, is part of the same political coalition as Hezbollah, which the United States deems a terror group.

Since the 1990s, Chagoury was reported to have cultivated a friendship with the Clinton’s family, in part by writing big checks, including an estimated $5 million to the Clinton Foundation, this is despite being a non-citizen forbidden by law to make donations to the campaigns of US politicians.

He however flouted that law with his numerous donations. By the time Hillary Clinton became secretary of State, the relationship was strong enough for one of Bill Clinton’s closest aides to push for Chagoury to get access to top diplomats and thus began the US exploring a deal to build a consulate at the Eko Atlantic city.

Between 2012 and 2016, he sought to help fund election campaigns of some US politicians. He donated to the Republicans and was listed as a sponsor for a 2014 art exhibit at the George W Bush Presidential Center.

One other campaign he funded was that of Jeff Fortenberry, a US lawmaker, in 2016.

Fortenberry later convicted of concealing information and making false statements to US federal authorities who were investigating illegal contributions made by Chagoury who is a foreign national, to his re-election campaign.

Fortenberry resigned from office after his conviction.

However, in 2019, Chagoury reportedly paid $1.8 million in fines to resolve the investigation when it began.

Born in Nigeria to Lebanese immigrants, the businessman flourished in the 1990s through his close association with the late dictator, Sani Abacha by receiving development deals and oil franchises.

After Abacha’s death in 1998, the Nigerian government hired lawyers to track down funds stolen through associates of the late dictator.

The trail led to bank accounts all over the world, some under Gilbert Chagoury’s control.

In 2000, the Lebanese businessman was convicted by a Swiss court for laundering some of the funds Abacha looted from Nigeria.

He agreed to pay a fine of about 1 million Swiss francs (about $600,000) at that time to get his Swiss conviction expunged and handed back $66 million to the Nigerian government but denied knowing the funds were stolen.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/04/11/works-minister-confirms-tinubus-lebanese-ally-chagoury-got-lagos-calabar-road-contract

The N30 billion corruption scandal was nothing compared to what is going on currently and what is about to happen!

Poor Nigerians will pay for it though, the ones fighting for “their tribe”. Bobo Chicago no send anybody papa

Biggest waste of hard earned currency, what exactly is this road meant to achieve .

Notice how they will take another economy sapping loan to fund this waste of funds

Proper checkmate need to be conducted on this project. With what am hearing that amount of money is only for the road and not the railway that they also proposed will be constructed.

Fantastic that Tinubu gave it to Hitech. Those guys sabi the concrete road job gan.

Let’s see as the construction goes.

Lol...

Confidante...

Tinubu is too corrupt. Giving a work of this financial magnitude to his friends without bidding.

Obi will probe Tinubu when he takes over 2027

LegendHero:
Fantastic that Tinubu gave it to Hitech. Those guys sabi the concrete road job gan.

Let’s see as the construction goes.

Is this a joke?


Goodluck’s entire budget for a year was 4Trn and you’re selling the country with loans to a Lebanese who will give you your own cut?

It’s a totally unnecessary project at this point

DMerciful:
Tinubu is too corrupt. Giving a work of this financial magnitude to his friends without bidding.

Obi will probe Tinubu when he takes over 2027

What bidding did Obi employ to domicile Anambra public funds in his own Fidelity Bank where he was a previous board Chairman?

What bidding did Obi employ to invest Anambra public funds in the same Brewery where he had significant interests?

Obi did not give work to his friend or associate, instead he gave it to himself and his the proceeds in foreign offshore accounts under his daughter's name.

That is the same Obi that want to probe Tinubu from his roles as Twitter President of Nigeria in 2027?

You joke too much.

Him for give him enemy before?

Some fools are still expecting the general overseer of corruption in Africa to save their life from abject poverty lol common sense is not common and bitterness toward people more successful than you can never translate to common sense “…tinubu go favor me” 😂 hahaha 🤣

Disturbing signs.

Tinubu is pretending to be fighting corruption.Meanwhile,he is secretly awarding contracts to his corrupt associates.
He gave contract to the former Lagos State house of assembly chairman, ikuforiji,who has been standing trial for corruption since 2012.
Now,a renowned criminal,who was banned by Nigerian and US government is getting another road contract.
Tinubu romance for corruption is a top notch

Julius Berger who is the only Company in Nigeria without blemishes and link with corrupt politicians hardly get contracts in a corrupt government.

StOla:


What bidding did Obi employ to domicile Anambra public funds in his own Fidelity Bank where he was a previous board Chairman?

What bidding did Obi employ to invest Anambra public funds in the same Brewery where he had significant interests?

Obi did not give work to his friend or associate, instead he gave it to himself and his the proceeds in foreign offshore accounts under his daughter's name.

That is the same Obi that want to probe Tinubu from his roles as Twitter President of Nigeria in 2027?

You joke too much.

Can you respond to allegations of corruption on the present government without comparing them to a state government that ended 10 years ago?

The comparison makes absolutely no sense. It’s actually childish!

kokoA:
Him for give him enemy before?

Neither of them.But be neutral through a bidding process

Have they completely abandoned the Lagos - Shagamu - Ore - Benin route?

When he says eight years to complete, but sure of twenty years and incomplete. As of now the Lagos - Seme highway remains incomplete. A project initiated by the same President and passed through three other governors since 2008.

How they did not open the job to competitive bidding will continue to leave a question mark, especially as we now know that the so called fight against corruption is a long lost battle.

Chicagograduate:
Neither of them.But be neutral through a bidding process

You are not serious. All of you people are hypocrites.

DMerciful:
Tinubu is too corrupt. Giving a work of this financial magnitude to his friends without bidding.

Obi will probe Tinubu when he takes over 2027

Which bidding did international breweries do that made Obi gave them Anambra state money?

In 2027 the result will be similar to 2023 and that's if the borehole digging will convince some northern christians to vote for him to be able to maintain his third position..... If not the third position is likely going to Kwankwaso or even Imomulen of accord

I hope this chagoury of a guy will leave nigeria after 8yrs because e no go funny 4 him n his gangs

Difrent:


Which bidding did international breweries do that made Obi gave them Anambra state money?

In 2027 the result will be similar to 2023 and that's if the borehole digging will convince some northern christians to vote for him to be able to maintain his third position..... If not the third position is likely going to Kwankwaso or even Imomulen of accord

When you begin to compare the actions and inactions of the current president with those of a former governor whose tenure ended about a decade ago, then something is wrong.

It's evidence of how woeful the president has become. It shows that the president has become a catastrophe, a disaster in all ramifications.

Obi won 2023 but was rigged out. That will not be allowed in 2027!

Difrent:


Which bidding did international breweries do that made Obi gave them Anambra state money?

In 2027 the result will be similar to 2023 and that's if the borehole digging will convince some northern christians to vote for him to be able to maintain his third position..... If not the third position is likely going to Kwankwaso or even Imomulen of accord

DMerciful:
Obi won 2023 but was rigged out. That will not be allowed in 2027!

PBAT won in 2023 and was rightly awarded.
You didn't campaign all over the country, you only limited yourself to your tribal and religious enclave and hope to win , doesn't work that way .
Even AA worked more than you and the results showed it.

Yes , Obi won on Twitter and Facebook
But the real elections was won by PBAT and AA came second while Ekuke got his rightful place behind his senior brothers.
You people think experience doesn't matter but have seen that it does.
In your various markets is it the juveniles that just got settled that leads your market unions? Or is it the immmature and inexperienced politicians that you elect as your governors ..... Alex Otti has been in PDP, APGA before landing in LP, it's the experiences he gathered in those other parties that made him win

DMerciful:
Obi won 2023 but was rigged out. That will not be allowed in 2027!

Obi didn't win anything. He didn't even come second. In fact it was mathematically impossible for Obi to have won

Lebanese are super corrupt and incompetent, Nigerians wake up and hold your elected officers accountable, stop worshipping known criminals na u and ur children go suffer am!

Time to repay the cocaine syndicate for election support

Just laughing at those supporting Tinubu either cos of tribal affiliations or something I don't get....for goodness sake Obi is not d president...y will dis e warriors always drag Obi whenever we r trying to pinpoint corruption in Tinubu's government....how do people reason?

LegendHero:
Fantastic that Tinubu gave it to Hitech. Those guys sabi the concrete road job gan.

Let’s see as the construction goes.

Same Chagoury a well known criminal and drug baron?

Same man that helped Abacha in laundering money. Lol

Ooh I remember your darling daddy loves corrupt entities like him.

Him for give him enemy before?

Feldie:
Obi didn't win anything. He didn't even come second. In fact it was mathematically impossible for Obi to have won

But Hope Uzodinma came 4th in Imo state but became governor. How was that mathematically possible?

socialmediaman:


But Hope Uzodinma came 4th in Imo state but became governor. How was that mathematically possible?

so you wanted a third place loser to become president?

4billion Naira per kilometre Road...!!!
Nigeria is truly finished...!!

The ebin pawa crew would multiply...!!