Coastal Highway: House of Reps Launches Fresh Investigation, Summons Finance, Works Ministers, AGF

• The Nigerian House of Representatives has decided to probe the controversial construction of an interstate highway expected to route across states
• This comes as political oppositions remain steadfast in their disapproval of the multitrillion naira project
• The Presidency has defended itself, saying it did what was best for the project as it chose the contractor with a wealth of past success to point at

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the highly-criticised newly launched inter-state highway that will link the South-West to the South-South.

The legislative arm of the government set up an ad hoc committee to begin extensive critical scrutinisation of the project, which is set to cost the nation four billion per kilometre.

Atiku Abubakar leads the league of opposition who condemns FG’s project
Image: X/AtikuSource: Twitter

The house tasks the committee to give a conclusive, detailed report within four weeks after a motion of urgent public importance, moved by the member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Benue State, Mr Austin Achado, was adopted.

The House also reached a conclusion to summon the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; and the Minister of Justice, who also doubles as the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

Controversy surrounding Lagos Highway

Many oppositions were staunch in their rejection of the whole project and the way it was awarded to the contractor.

Atiku Abubakar did not mince words to call the project a scheme by the federal government to pocket from the nation’s vault, asking why the normal competitive bidding was circumvented and why the Hitech Construction company was chosen.

Works minister Umahi defended the move, explaining that the government was convinced by the company’s track record.

Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Labour Party in the fiercely contested 2023 general election, also let out a stinging assessment of the project, saying it was unnecessary as the funds should have been used to complete abandoned projects.

FG finally begins demolition, orders closure of Lagos beach

TheTalk.NG had earlier reported that the federal government had started the demolition of buildings along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway’s right of way despite controversies surrounding the project.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the commencement, assuring that only shanties would be affected and that compensation for affected property owners had been arranged.

Source: TheTalk.NG

Fresh Update as Nigerian Army Stations Vans At Popular Abuja Market

Soldiers have stationed their vans across different spots at the Banez Plaza in the Wuse area of Abuja following the assault on two soldiers by some thugs The popular electronics and telecommunications gadget market has remained closed as traders were prevented from opening their shops Some traders who showed up on Monday, May 20 left … Continue reading here ▶

BREAKING: Fresh Blow for Nnamdi Kanu as High Court Rejects IPOB Leader’s Fresh Bail Request

A federal high court has dismissed two applications by the detained leader of the controversial Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. TheTalk.NG reports that in one of the applications, Kanu sought to be granted bail following his yearslong incarceration The Biafra agitator also requested to be transferred from the custody of the DSS, where … Continue reading here ▶

President Tinubu Condoles with Iran Over the Passing of President Raisi

Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commiserated with Iran over the passing of its President, Ebrahim Raisi, on Monday The Iranian president died in a helicopter crash while travelling from an inauguration event of a project The government blamed the tragic incident on bad weather which forced the chopper to hard landed President Bola Tinubu … Continue reading here ▶

BREAKING: Nigeria’s Ex-Minister Afonja Is Dead, Details Emerge

A former Minister of Labour and Productivity under the Interim National Government, Prince Ajibola Afonja is dead. Afonja who served as a minister under the short-lived interim administration of late Chief Ernest Shonekan, died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital (UCH), in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The former Chairman of First Bank … Continue reading here ▶

“Get Serious”: NLC Rejects FG’s N100,000 New Minimum Wage Offer, Gives Reason

Organised labour is furious over the federal government’s offer of N48,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers The NLC and the TUC have maintained that they will also not accept N100,000 offer from the government as minimum wage Ahead of the negotiation meeting slated for Tuesday with the federal government, organised labour, insisted … Continue reading here ▶