A faction of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has called on the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it describes as a conflict of interest in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, the group’s leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, criticized Tinubu for publicly acknowledging his partnership with Gilbert Chagoury—the owner of Hitech Construction Company, the contractor handling the multi-billion naira coastal highway.
President Tinubu, while inaugurating the 30-kilometre Phase 1, Section 1 of the project last Saturday, praised Chagoury and Hitech for their commitment, referring to the contractor as “my partner in daring,” and describing the project as a “symbol of courage and commitment.”
Hitech, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, is also behind the Eko Atlantic City project—an upscale real estate development built on reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean, which the coastal highway is expected to serve.
Reacting to the remarks, Oba Olaitan expressed outrage, accusing Tinubu of awarding a federal contract without competitive bidding, and alleging that the road project primarily serves the private interest of Eko Atlantic.
“All President Tinubu is doing is building a road to his own Atlantic City,” Olaitan stated. “He openly said the contractor is his partner. That means he awarded a federal contract to himself. It’s a national shame. If we had a truly independent and vibrant National Assembly, impeachment proceedings would have begun immediately.”
He further questioned the decision to commission only a small portion—just 4%—of the full highway project, warning that it may signal a lack of intent to complete the rest once the segment serving Eko Atlantic is done.
Olaitan called on lawmakers to assert their independence and uphold democratic principles:
“The National Assembly must prove that it is not complicit. If they are truly independent, they must act now. The president has admitted to a breach of public trust. Impeachment proceedings should begin immediately.”
However, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) swiftly dismissed the call for impeachment as baseless.
APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo described the allegation as “a joke taken too far,” accusing critics of deliberately misinterpreting Tinubu’s words.
“Maybe they need to consult their dictionary to understand what ‘partner’ means,” Oladejo said. “He didn’t say ‘business partner.’ He meant a visionary ally, not someone he shares a company with.”
He also insisted that due process was followed in awarding the contract, and any concerns should be addressed through proper legal and administrative channels – not political grandstanding.
“There’s no basis for impeachment,” Oladejo concluded.
