Nigeria’s Works Minister Defends Direct Procurement of Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway Amid Design Concerns
Minister David Umahi defended awarding the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway to Hitech Construction via direct procurement, citing the contractor’s coastal engineering expertise.
In Brief
- •Minister David Umahi defended awarding the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway to Hitech Construction via direct procurement, citing the contractor’s coastal engineering expertise.
- •The project was not publicly advertised or subject to open competitive bidding, and no complete engineering design for the entire corridor existed before contracts were awarded.
- •The Bureau of Public Procurement advised procurement in sections, and the Federal Executive Council approved the direct procurement after a Certificate of No Objection.
- •The lack of a comprehensive design raises questions about cost estimation, environmental safeguards, and alignment decisions for the multi‑state highway.
Why It Matters
The decision to award a large, multi‑state infrastructure project without a complete engineering design highlights potential gaps in Nigeria’s procurement and planning processes. It raises concerns about cost overruns, environmental impacts, and the ability of the government to deliver a coordinated master plan for the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway.
Key Details
- Project
- Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway
- Contractor
- Hitech Construction
- Procurement Method
- Direct procurement
- Design Status
- No complete design before procurement
- Approval Authority
- Federal Executive Council
- BPP Recommendation
- Procure in sections
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