The Director-General of the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO), Felix Hassan Hyat, has called on the Federal Government to publish procurement and payment records for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and order an independent engineering assessment of its recent realignment.
Hyat made the demand at a press conference on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, where he raised concerns over the project’s planning, procurement process, cost implications and transparency, following the announcement by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, that the highway’s route would be realigned.
The MDPCO director-general questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported change in the route, describing it as a possible indication of shortcomings in the project’s initial planning and engineering assessment.
He also challenged the Federal Government to explain the environmental and climatic considerations cited in connection with the realignment, arguing that such issues should have been adequately addressed before the project commenced.
Hyat further questioned the process through which the contract was awarded in 2024, alleging that it proceeded without an approved engineering design, an open and competitive bidding process, and the necessary budgetary provision and appropriation by the National Assembly.
He urged the government to make public the details of the procurement process, contractor selection, contract cost and measures put in place to safeguard public funds.
The campaign organisation also raised concerns about the potential financial implications of redirecting part of the highway to existing roads, demanding clarification on whether the adjustment would reduce the overall project cost.
According to Hyat, the government should publish the engineering assessments informing the decision, the analysis of alternative routes, the cost implications of the realignment and a comprehensive account of the work executed and funds spent so far.
He said the demand for accountability was particularly important amid the economic challenges facing Nigerians, including rising food prices, transportation costs and healthcare expenses.
The MDPCO also expressed concern over the impact of economic conditions on students, citing increased university tuition fees and the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
The organisation alleged that the circumstances surrounding the highway contract raised questions about possible conflicts of interest involving companies linked to individuals allegedly associated with the Presidency. It also referred to allegations that the contract was intended to provide funds for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s election expenses, calling for the claims to be addressed through transparency and verifiable records.
However, the allegations were presented by the campaign organisation as grounds for further scrutiny.
Hyat said the organisation was demanding an immediate release of relevant procurement and payment records, an independent engineering assessment of the realignment in Ondo State, and a comprehensive audit of the project’s total cost, expenditure to date and future execution plans.
The campaign organisation also called on Nigerians to reject President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that his administration had failed to fulfil its campaign promises and had contributed to the country’s economic difficulties.
It urged Nigerians to support the presidential candidacy of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), presenting his proposed RESET NIGERIA agenda as an alternative vision for national development.
Hyat maintained that the campaign organisation believed Makinde could build consensus across political parties and regions, adding that national interest should take precedence over individual political ambitions.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a major federal infrastructure project that has attracted public attention over its cost, procurement arrangements and implementation. The latest dispute over its route has renewed calls for the government to clarify the technical and financial basis of the project and account for public expenditure.
The Federal Government’s response to the specific demands and allegations raised by the campaign organisation was not included in the press conference statement.
