HARRISON EDEH 

FORMER Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain controversies surrounding $20 billion in projects reportedly linked to Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury, a longtime associate of the President.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Monday, August 10, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the questions reportedly raised by The Economist had moved concerns about the Tinubu administration’s procurement practices from domestic criticism to what he described as an international credibility crisis.

Atiku said the reported value of the projects was approximately ₦27 trillion at prevailing exchange rates, arguing that Nigerians deserved to know how projects of such magnitude became concentrated around businesses linked to a presidential associate.

“This is not pocket change. This is an amount approaching the scale of entire national budgets,” Atiku said.

He urged the Presidency to specifically address issues reportedly raised by The Economist concerning procurement, taxation and the relationship between political proximity and access to major government projects.

“The questions are simple: Who awarded these contracts? Were they competitively tendered? What tax concessions, waivers or privileges were granted? Who are the ultimate beneficial owners? And why does the same presidential associate keep appearing around projects worth billions of dollars?” he asked.

Atiku also criticised the Presidency’s response to allegations of corruption and cronyism, saying President Tinubu should address the substance of the questions rather than rely on presidential spokespersons to attack critics.

“The Economist is not an opposition party. It is not on the ballot in 2027. The President should answer the questions it has raised,” he said.

The former Vice President said the controversy was particularly significant because Nigerians were facing higher taxes, rising living costs and economic hardship while being asked to make sacrifices under the administration’s reform programme.

“You cannot preach sacrifice to hungry Nigerians while questions hang over ₦27 trillion worth of projects linked to your friend. That is not reform. It is an assault on public trust,” he said.

Atiku therefore called on the Presidency to publish details of the procurement processes, ownership structures, tax concessions and other relevant information concerning the projects reportedly identified by The Economist.

“Nigeria is a republic, not a friends-and-family investment portfolio. ₦27 trillion demands answers. President Tinubu must provide them,” he said.