From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
A pressure group, Concerned Nigerian Network in Diaspora (CNND), has urged Nigerians to concentrate on the capabilities, integrity and service delivery of the Hitech Construction Company in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Its President, James Erebuoye, made the appeal while reacting to ongoing controversy trailing the award of the coastal highway contract to the company.
Erebuoye, who is also president, Rebuild Nigeria Movement Worldwide, pleaded with Nigerians to prioritise the company’s credibility and service delivery capabilities regardless of its ownership.
He said President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, a board member of Ogun-based tile and sanitary ware manufacturer, CDK Industries Ltd, posed no conflict of interest to the project as alleged.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had alleged that the coastal highway project was embarked upon because of the business ties between President Tinubu and Gilbert Chagoury, owner of the Hitech Construction Company.
Erebuoye added that individuals like Seyi had the same rights as other citizens to engage in partnerships with companies, wondering how Seyi’s membership of the board of CDK conflicts with Hitech Construction Company’s work on the Lagos-Calabar coastal superhighway.
He emphasised the significance of combating insecurity effectively to foster economic growth and attract investment, and appealed to Nigerians to shun biases and support the government’s efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
The CNND president stressed that a peaceful and stable environment was essential for businesses to thrive and attract foreign investors.
“The objective is to facilitate foreign investment into the country to reduce unemployment.
“I recommend incorporating corruption studies into the national curriculum at all levels. I advise Nigerians to look beyond the current economic difficulties, and focus on contributing to national reforms,” he said.
Erebuoye also maintained that despite the current challenges in the country, the CNND would not be discouraged from wooing foreign investors into the country.
“I have taken the lead, and I will not relent in this regard, as we are already working with some foreign investors to have them established in Nigeria,” he said.