Atiku Abubakar Alleges Business Ties Between Tinubu and Chagoury’s Children in Controversial Highway Projects

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made significant claims regarding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, referencing an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global network of investigative journalists.

According to Atiku, the OCCRP has revealed that Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, is closely connected to Gilbert Chagoury, who was awarded the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project without competitive bidding. This revelation has led to ongoing court proceedings.

Atiku, who had previously labeled the project as fraudulent—a claim the government had denied—now points to the business partnership between Chagoury and Tinubu’s children as evidence of a potential conflict of interest. His comments underscore concerns about the integrity of the project’s approval process.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway, collectively valued at over $24 billion, were approved without competitive bidding, according to Atiku. He argues that these connections and the lack of competitive bidding highlight a troubling pattern of favoritism.

In his statement, Atiku emphasized: “I had earlier claimed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project was fraudulent, but the government denied it. Now, the matter is in court. It is also concerning that Chagoury and Tinubu have a business relationship, and their children are business partners, as revealed by the OCCRP. This indicates a conflict of interest. It is no surprise that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway, which together will cost over $24 billion, were approved without competitive bidding. It seems that whatever Tinubu wants, he gets.”

Atiku’s remarks have sparked debate over the transparency and fairness of the awarding process for major infrastructure projects in Nigeria.