David Umahi just dropped a bomb on the political arena: he insists President Tinubu never told him to award the Lagos‑Calabar highway contract to Hitech. The claim comes at a time when every road project seems to be a headline, and the nation is tired of hearing the same old song about "ghost contracts" and "back‑room deals".
What does this mean for us?
- If Umahi is telling the truth, who is pulling the strings behind the scenes? Could it be a powerful lobbyist, a foreign interest, or perhaps a local syndicate that thrives on the "you give us the contract, we give you the money" game?
- If Tinubu truly stayed out of the decision, why does the narrative keep circling back to his name? Are we being fed a convenient scapegoat to shield deeper rot?
The bigger picture
| Actor | Alleged Role | Current Stance |
|---|---|---|
| Tinubu | Supposedly pressured for contract award | Denies involvement (via Umahi) |
| Umahi | Governor turned Works Minister | Takes full responsibility, says no direction from Tinubu |
| Hitech | Contractor for the highway project | Stands to gain ₦50bn+ if contract sticks |
The Lagos‑Calabar highway is not just a stretch of tarmac; it is a lifeline that could open up trade corridors from the Atlantic coast to the hinterlands. Yet every time we hear about "who gave who the contract", the real question is who will benefit when the road finally opens.
E be like say una don carry una destiny throway for gutter?
We keep hearing promises of development while the same faces keep popping up in every scandal. It’s time we ask ourselves: are we satisfied with politicians pointing fingers at each other, or do we demand transparent tender processes, independent audits, and a real commitment to African engineering capacity?
Call to action
- Demand the Ministry of Works publish the full tender dossier for public scrutiny.
- Push for an independent watchdog, perhaps drawn from the African Development Bank or local civil‑society groups.
- Support home‑grown firms that have a track record of delivering quality infrastructure without the "sweet‑talk" of foreign consultants.
Only when we stop treating these contracts as political poker chips will we see genuine progress. What do una think? Who else should be held accountable?