Afenifere Faction Demands Tinubu’s Impeachment Over Alleged Conflict of Interest in Coastal Highway Project

A faction of the influential Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called on Nigeria’s National Assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bola Tinubu, citing an alleged conflict of interest in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract. The controversy centers around Tinubu’s recent comments during the inauguration of Phase 1 of the highway, where he referred to the contractor, Gilbert Chagoury, as “my partner in daring.”

The highway, being executed by Hitech Construction Company—owned by the Chagoury Group—has faced scrutiny for its perceived alignment with the interests of the Eko Atlantic City project, a private venture also spearheaded by Chagoury’s conglomerate. Critics argue that the road disproportionately benefits this private development.

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Oba Oladipo Olaitan, leader of the Afenifere faction, minced no words in condemning Tinubu’s statement, interpreting it as a public admission of a serious ethical breach. “The President awarded a federal contract to his partner. This was not advertised for competitive bidding. It is a national disgrace,” he told Saturday PUNCH.

Olaitan expressed concern that the coastal highway is potentially being constructed not for national benefit, but primarily to provide access to Eko Atlantic City. “Why commission just four percent of the road? That road leads straight to their private development. If that part is completed, the rest may be abandoned,” he warned.

Citing a blatant conflict of interest, Olaitan insisted the time had come for lawmakers to take decisive action. “The National Assembly must prove its independence. If they fail to act on this, they are complicit. Tinubu has admitted to breaching public trust. We must not normalize this,” he urged.

The Highway, the Partner, and the President

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has been lauded by the federal government as a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at linking Nigeria’s coastal states and boosting economic activity. However, skepticism grew following the inauguration of just a 30-kilometre stretch—Phase 1, Section 1—leading to intense scrutiny from civil society, opposition figures, and now, traditional and political groups.

President Tinubu, at the commissioning event, praised the resilience of Hitech Construction and highlighted the difficulty of building the road along the Atlantic shoreline. “To the contractors and my partner in daring, it was tough for us… We came together to tame the Atlantic,” he said.

But critics, including the Afenifere faction, argue that the President’s use of the term “partner” implies a personal or business relationship that compromises the integrity of the contract award. Olaitan emphasized that such relationships, if confirmed, would constitute a breach of procurement laws and democratic ethics.

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Responding to the uproar, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the impeachment call as politically motivated and lacking factual basis. APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo accused the Afenifere faction of deliberately twisting the President’s words.

“Maybe they need to consult their dictionary to understand what ‘partner’ means. He didn’t say business partner. He referred to them as partners in daring—people who shared his vision,” Oladejo said.

He maintained that there is no evidence of impropriety or business entanglement between Tinubu and Chagoury. “Relevant authorities handled the contract process. If there are any genuine concerns, they should be addressed through the proper channels, not via baseless impeachment threats,” he added.

The APC further asserted that all due processes were followed in the contract award and that any allegations of wrongdoing must be substantiated with facts, not speculation.

National Assembly in the Spotlight

This latest development places the National Assembly under intense pressure. With accusations of executive overreach and potential favoritism now in public discourse, lawmakers are being watched closely for their response.

Observers note that while presidential impeachment in Nigeria is a high threshold and politically fraught, the call by Afenifere brings into sharp focus the importance of transparency, accountability, and institutional checks in the Tinubu administration.

Furthermore, the issue underscores the wider challenge of trust in Nigeria’s procurement systems. Critics argue that projects linked to private interests must be subjected to higher scrutiny, especially when state resources are involved.

A Nation Divided on Infrastructure and Integrity

For some Nigerians, the Lagos-Calabar highway symbolizes progress, national unity, and development. For others, it raises red flags about the entanglement of private gain with public policy. The question of whether a vital infrastructure project is being weaponized for personal benefit has polarized opinions.

As the President seeks to expand his infrastructural legacy, calls for more transparency and adherence to competitive bidding standards are expected to intensify. With Yoruba cultural leaders now entering the fray, the debate over integrity in governance is far from over.