Renowned political analyst Mahdi Shehu has sounded the alarm on social media, shedding light on the controversial granting of a N1 trillion advance payment to Hitech Engineering.
The company, reportedly linked to Gilbert Chagoury, a convicted money-launderer associated with Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, is slated to undertake the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
This development has stirred uproar, occurring amidst a backdrop of a N15 trillion contract allegedly mired in procedural violations and devoid of budgetary provisions. Notably, these decisions were made during a period of National Assembly recess, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.
Shehu voiced apprehensions regarding the swiftness and opacity of the approval process, suggesting a potential diversion of funds from a $2.2 billion government loan intended for the project. He highlighted the absence of stakeholder consultations and the apparent preferential treatment accorded to Hitech Engineering, contrasting it with the plight of less privileged contractors owed substantial sums for completed projects totaling over N7 trillion.
In a plea for transparency and integrity, Shehu called upon Pastor Remi Tinubu of the RCCG to remind her husband, Bola Tinubu, of biblical principles emphasizing fairness and impartiality. Quoting scriptures from Deuteronomy, Romans, and Acts, he underscored the incongruity of favoritism with divine commands.
The revelation has ignited fury among Nigerians, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the procurement process and the allocation of public funds for the project. While the federal government has yet to address these allegations, citizens remain hopeful for swift action and accountability in addressing these pressing concerns.
