Some of the major opposition parties have criticised President Bola Tinubu over his decision to confer an award of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)—Nigeria’s second-highest national honour—on billionaire businessman and longtime associate Gilbert Chagoury, describing the move as cronyism and a decline in national values.
The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, said the decision reflected Tinubu’s leadership style and disregard for public opinion. He cited the President’s close ties with the Chagoury family, including their involvement in major projects such as Eko Atlantic City and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.
Johnson also criticised Tinubu’s absence from key national events like Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Day, describing it as a reflection of misplaced priorities.
Similarly, Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the honour exposed the politicisation of Nigeria’s awards system, alleging that national honours had become tools for settling personal and political favours.
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The Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, through her media aide Ken Asogwa, questioned whether Chagoury’s contributions justified such a prestigious honour. She argued that recipients of national honours should demonstrate exceptional national impact, citing industrialists like Aliko Dangote as examples due to their significant role in employment and economic growth.
President Tinubu, in a letter dated January 8, said the award was in recognition of Chagoury’s “services to Nigeria,” acting under the National Honours Act.
The decision drew public praise from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola, who described Chagoury’s contributions to landmark real estate and infrastructure projects as impactful and deserving of recognition.
Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman born in Lagos, co-founded the Chagoury Group in 1971. The conglomerate operates across construction, real estate, manufacturing, telecommunications, hospitality, and finance.
The award comes amid ongoing controversy over the $11bn Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, awarded to Chagoury’s firm, Hitech, in 2024, a deal criticised for the absence of a public bidding process and the President’s longstanding personal and business relationship with Chagoury.
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