Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Federal Government of inflating the cost of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, describing the project as one of the most expensive infrastructure undertakings in Nigeria’s history.

Atiku made the claim on Wednesday, insisting that the project should undergo an independent value-for-money audit. He further called for suspension of payments until Nigerians are assured that the project genuinely serves the national interest.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, recalled that Atiku had raised alarm over the highway’s cost when the Tinubu administration unveiled the project. At the time, he warned that the cost had been exaggerated to an outrageous N8 billion per kilometre.

Shaibu noted that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, initially dismissed the claim, insisting the actual cost would be around N4 billion per kilometre. “The minister has now admitted that the cost is indeed closer to N8 billion per kilometre, exactly what Atiku warned Nigerians about,” the statement said.

“This admission not only vindicates the former vice president but also exposes the lack of transparency in the management of one of Nigeria’s costliest road projects,” it added.