Tinubu Awards Another Mega Project to Long-Time Ally Chagoury Despite Corruption Allegations, Contradicting Seyi Tinubu’s Claims

President Bola Tinubu has once again awarded a multi-million-dollar project to his longtime ally, Gilbert Chagoury, raising further concerns over the government’s procurement process and its commitment to transparency.

Chagoury’s ITB Construction Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chagoury Group, has been selected to refurbish Tin Can and Apapa, Lagos’ two major seaports, in a $700 million project despite lacking significant experience in port reconstruction. The Federal Executive Committee approved the contract in February, reportedly at the president’s discretion.

The decision follows the controversial $11 billion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project awarded in 2024 to Chagoury’s Hi-Tech Construction. This deal sparked public outrage over the lack of competitive bidding and concerns about the project’s feasibility. The coastal highway, which cuts through several communities, has been widely criticised for land acquisition disputes, environmental concerns, and its staggering cost at a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic hardship.

These latest revelations starkly contradict recent statements by Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, who insisted that his father was not in office to enrich himself and his friends.

The only president that created an economy that has benefitted everybody, the only president that is not trying to enrich his own pocket” Seyi stated publicly.

However, the repeated awarding of high-profile projects to Chagoury—a businessman with a documented history of corruption—tells a different story.

Chagoury, a Nigerian-Lebanese and a longtime friend of Tinubu was convicted in 2000 for money laundering and later fined $1.8 million by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2021 for illegal campaign donations. He was once banned from entering the U.S. due to his alleged links to corruption and terrorism financing.

Yet, in Nigeria, his influence continues growing, securing major government deals with little oversight. Despite concerns over his past, Chagoury remains influential in the nation’s economic landscape, brokering meetings between foreign investors and Nigerian officials. He recently arranged a meeting between Dubai-based DP World and the Nigerian president on February 26.

The $700 million seaport project is expected to be financed through loans from Nigeria’s Citi Bank and the UK’s Export Finance. APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Maersk, has already pledged $500 million—covering 70% of the renovation costs—while Afreximbank has also expressed interest in funding the project. The Nigerian Ports Authority, led by Abubakar Dantsoho, is expected to decide on financial partners.

However, critics argue that the choice of Chagoury’s firm once again raises red flags about the president’s commitment to due process.

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