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Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said President Bola Tinubu did not direct him to award the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Hitech Construction Company.
Umahi, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said he took full responsibility for the decision to select Hitech for the project, amid controversies surrounding the procurement process.
The minister said Hitech was chosen because of its previous experience in tackling coastal erosion and restoring parts of Victoria Island.
He also dismissed suggestions that Tinubu’s relationship with Hitech owner, Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury, influenced the contract award, insisting that the decision had nothing to do with the President.
According to Umahi, the procurement process was conducted within the provisions of the law and passed through the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
He also explained that National Assembly approval was required for the borrowing plan for the project, rather than the procurement process itself.
Umahi further said the Federal Government was incorporating hydraulic channels and service lanes into the project to address flooding and improve access for residents along the Lagos corridor.
The minister expressed confidence in the durability of the highway, saying it could last between 50 and 100 years with low maintenance.
