ATIKU CHALLENGES TINUBU TO EXPLAIN $20BN CHAGOURY DEALS

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain the details of projects and investment deals reportedly linked to Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury, with a combined value said to be around $20 billion.
Atiku raised questions about the transparency surrounding the projects, urging the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with clear information about the nature, value, beneficiaries, financing arrangements and expected public benefits of the deals.
The former vice-president said Nigerians have a right to know how major public-private projects are negotiated and whether the agreements provide sufficient value for the country.
He also questioned the relationship between the administration and Chagoury, calling for greater disclosure where significant public resources, government guarantees or national assets may be involved.
Atiku argued that transparency and accountability are particularly important when government enters into large-scale investment agreements, stressing that Nigerians should be able to scrutinise such arrangements.
He urged the Tinubu administration to publish relevant details of the projects and explain how the agreements align with the country’s economic interests.
The former presidential candidate maintained that the government should not dismiss legitimate questions about major financial commitments, insisting that openness would help strengthen public confidence in the administration.
The challenge comes amid Atiku’s broader criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and calls for greater accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.