The media office of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for an independent audit of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, demanding transparency over public expenditure, construction progress and reported changes to the original plan.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, Idris Zekeri, spokesperson for the Obi media office, said the Federal Government should provide a clear account of the project’s current status and explain how funds allocated to it had been utilised.
The office also asked the government to disclose the amount spent so far, the extent of work completed and the authorities responsible for approving alterations to the original project design.
The demand comes amid renewed debate over the highway following disclosures by Dave Umahi, minister of works, that President Bola Tinubu had directed the rerouting of sections of the project through the existing East-West Road from Ondo State into Edo State.
Umahi said the decision was informed by difficult terrain and flooding concerns along parts of the corridor. He also explained that the government had made engineering adjustments to avoid sections that would require extensive filling and increase construction costs.
Obi’s media office recalled that the former Anambra State governor had previously advocated prioritising the rehabilitation of deteriorating inland roads before committing substantial resources to the coastal highway.
According to the statement, Obi’s position was based on the need to direct public funds towards projects that would deliver the greatest benefits to the largest number of Nigerians.
The office also criticised Umahi’s response to Obi’s earlier concerns, arguing that questions about public spending and infrastructure priorities should be addressed rather than treated as political attacks.
It said Nigerians deserved answers about the project’s scope, expenditure and reported changes, adding that those responsible should be held accountable if an investigation established waste or mismanagement.
“Public projects are not political advertisements, and public funds are not private property,” the statement said.
The media office maintained that Obi was not opposed to infrastructure development but wanted the government to demonstrate that major projects were being executed responsibly and offered value for money.
The call for an audit follows a similar demand by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who on Monday urged the Federal Government to publish the highway’s contract documents, payment records, original and revised route plans, and approvals for contract variations.
Atiku also called for clarification on reports of possible additional borrowing linked to the project, insisting that Nigerians should be informed about the financial implications of changes to the original plan.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has continued to defend the coastal highway, with Umahi providing updates on construction across different sections. The minister said the first 47.47-kilometre section, beginning from Victoria Island in Lagos, had been completed and was ready for commissioning, while work continued on other portions.
The government has presented the highway as a major infrastructure project intended to improve transportation links and support economic activities along Nigeria’s southern coastline. However, the reported route changes have intensified calls for greater disclosure of the project’s costs, implementation and financial commitments.
Obi’s media office urged the Federal Government to treat public scrutiny as a legitimate part of democratic accountability and provide Nigerians with a comprehensive account of the project.
It said transparency was necessary to establish how public funds had been spent, what had been achieved and whether the reported alterations had been properly authorised.
