The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has denied allegations of corruption or favoritism in the award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Hitech Construction Company Ltd. Speaking on Saturday during an inspection tour of the ongoing highway project in Lagos, Umahi clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not recommend any contractor for the job, stressing that the process was transparent and fully in line with the law.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the largest infrastructure projects currently underway in Nigeria, designed to boost connectivity between Lagos and the southeastern parts of the country. The project has been met with scrutiny from some quarters, with critics questioning the procurement process and the choice of Hitech Construction. However, Umahi vehemently rejected these criticisms and provided a detailed explanation of how the contract was awarded.
Umahi, in his statement, assured Nigerians that there was no corruption involved in the project. He emphasized that the federal government had followed a clear and lawful process for awarding the contract. “I want to say that there is no corruption in it. It is very transparent,” he stated, in response to claims that the process was not properly managed.
The controversy surrounding the highway project has primarily been focused on two issues: whether the project went through a competitive bidding process and whether there was any undue influence in the selection of Hitech Construction as the contractor. Critics had also questioned whether President Tinubu had played a role in the awarding of the contract, a matter Umahi was keen to address.
The Works Minister made it clear that President Tinubu did not personally recommend Hitech Construction for the project, stating, “President Tinubu did not recommend any company for the highway project.” He added that the project was handled by the Ministry of Works following the appropriate legal framework, without any outside interference.
One of the primary concerns raised by critics was the nature of the procurement process, with some suggesting that the project did not go through a competitive bidding process. Umahi took the time to explain the different procurement methods available under Nigerian law and how they were applied in this instance.
“We have three types of procurement allowed by law,” he stated, listing restrictive procurement, selective/competitive bidding, and open bidding. According to Umahi, the project initially began with a selective or restrictive procurement process. This approach, he explained, was necessary due to the specialized nature of the project, particularly the requirement for a concrete paver machine—equipment that was not widely available in Nigeria at the time.
“When we started this project, we asked for companies that had up to five working concrete pavers,” Umahi explained. He pointed out that such equipment was relatively rare in Nigeria, and the government needed a company that had the experience and the capability to handle the unique demands of the highway project, especially in regions with high water tables.
Hitech Construction, Umahi noted, was selected for Section 1 of the project after the company’s successful track record in handling similar infrastructure work, particularly the reconstruction of the Oworonshoki-Apapa Road in Lagos. “We saw that they got it right; so, we called them on Section 1,” he added.
Umahi further clarified that the restrictive procurement method used for the first section of the project was reviewed and approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), who ensured that everything was done according to regulations.
As the project progressed, Umahi explained that the Ministry of Works, under his leadership, sought to promote competition by opening up additional sections of the highway to a more competitive bidding process.
“The Federal Government consequently opened Section 2 of the project to selective bidding and selected some companies, and they bid,” he said, noting that Hitech Construction emerged as the winning bidder for Section 2. The same process was followed for Sections 3A and 3B of the project, ensuring that the bidding was both competitive and in compliance with the Procurement Act.
Umahi emphasized that no corners were cut in the process, and all the relevant agencies and legal bodies, including the BPP and FEC, had been fully involved in reviewing and approving the procurement steps. “We have not gone outside the law, we have not gone outside the Procurement Act,” he assured the public.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s history. The 1,300-kilometer highway, once completed, is expected to significantly enhance trade, transport, and economic development between the southwestern and southeastern parts of the country. The project is also seen as a major step toward improving the nation’s road infrastructure and reducing the burden on existing routes, which are often overcrowded and in poor condition.
By improving the connectivity between Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria, and the southeastern states, the highway is expected to open up new opportunities for trade, tourism, and regional integration. The project also forms part of the federal government’s broader plans to modernize the nation’s infrastructure and address the country’s economic challenges, including creating jobs and boosting the construction sector.
Hitech Construction Company Ltd. is a Nigerian-based firm with experience in large-scale infrastructure projects. The company has previously undertaken major roadworks, including the Oworonshoki-Apapa Road project, which Umahi referenced as evidence of the company’s capability. Despite concerns raised by critics, Umahi’s defense of Hitech’s qualifications and track record was aimed at reassuring the public that the selection of the company was based on merit rather than political influence.
The Works Minister’s explanation of the procurement process suggests that the government was committed to ensuring that the project was awarded to a qualified contractor with the necessary expertise, while also adhering to the legal and regulatory framework governing public procurement.
