Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has voiced strong opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's request for Senate approval of a $516 million external loan to fund parts of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway project. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku acknowledged the importance of connecting the Northwest to the Southwest through infrastructure development. He stressed that while such projects are necessary for national integration and economic growth, they must not come at the cost of fiscal recklessness. Atiku pointed to Nigeria's existing burden of unsustainable debt, warning that taking on more foreign loans without transparent terms, cost-benefit analysis, or a repayment plan undermines accountability. He emphasized that Nigerians expect responsible financing, not just ambitious projects. Atiku questioned the decision to award the contract to Hitech Construction Company Limited without a competitive bidding process. He drew parallels to the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, where similar concerns over due process were raised. He described the apparent repetition of opaque contracting as deeply troubling, especially when financed by borrowed funds. Atiku challenged the morality of borrowing money from the public purse to award contracts to associates without transparency. He insisted that public infrastructure must not become a vehicle for favouritism or insider deals. Every naira borrowed, he said, must be matched with accountability and adherence to procurement laws. He urged the National Assembly to subject the loan request to rigorous scrutiny to ensure it serves the public interest and delivers tangible economic value.
Atiku criticizes Tinubu's push for a $516 million loan to fund the Sokoto–Badagry Highway while his own administration awarded major contracts without competitive bidding, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port. The same Hitech Construction Company Limited linked to the current controversy won a contract under Tinubu's predecessor at the Nigerian Ports Authority. Nigerians named in past procurement records have not seen improved transparency, regardless of which political figure is in power. Rhetoric against cronyism rings hollow when past actions tell a different story.
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