Dave Umahi Claps Back At Makinde Over Comments On Lagos-Calabar Highway Cost
Minister of Works David Umahi has responded strongly to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s criticism of the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the governor misunderstood the technical and financial details behind the project.
During an inspection of the Keffi Bridge and Nasarawa–Toto Road projects on Saturday with Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Umahi said the project’s cost was based on internationally accepted engineering standards and should not be turned into a political talking point.
Governor Makinde had, in a viral video on Friday, accused Umahi of “dancing around” the figures, saying the Ministry of Works was not being transparent enough about the project’s cost structure.
In his response, Umahi described Makinde as “a brother and friend” but said it was wrong to make such comments publicly without understanding the technical background. “I heard that my brother and friend, Governor Makinde, said something about the cost per kilometre. I don’t want to join issues with him,” he said. “He’s an engineer, while I’m an electrical engineer — and this road construction matter, ‘elect-elect no reach there’.”
Umahi continued, “I’m his senior both in governance and in engineering practice. So, anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask. I respect him a lot, but he should withdraw the statement that I’m dancing around. I never danced around anything. If he insists, he should come for a debate — that’s very important.”
Clarifying the figures, the minister explained that the “cost per kilometre” can be expressed in two ways — as an estimated cost and as an average cost — both of which serve different purposes. “The estimated cost includes contingencies and variations that may not eventually be used. When the project is completed and you remove those, what remains is the actual cost,” he said.
Umahi also mocked those who sought clarification from Artificial Intelligence on the issue, saying AI’s response backed his explanation. “When someone who doesn’t understand the topic goes to ask AI about the difference between estimated and average cost, I’m glad AI confirmed exactly what I said,” he remarked.
He further noted that practical field experience in engineering qualifies as expertise, saying, “The National Universities Commission recognizes that a person can become a professor through practical experience. I believe God has made me one in field engineering — and that’s not something anyone can take away.”
