Tag: Seyi Makinde

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.”  

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticized Works Minister David Umahi for avoiding clear answers on the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, calling for greater transparency in the multi-billion-naira project. The governor’s remarks follow a tense live television exchange between Umahi and Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni on Tuesday. Oseni asked the minister to break down the project’s cost per kilometre, but Umahi resisted, insisting that the figures vary across different stretches and that the question was too complex. He described himself as a “professor” in engineering and told Oseni, “Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I understand engineering very well. You have no knowledge of what you’re asking.” Oseni stood his ground, replying, “Minister, it’s alright, keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.” Makinde defended the journalist, stressing the importance of clear information on public spending. He cited examples from Oyo State: the Oyo–Iseyin road, spanning about 34–35 kilometres, cost nearly N10 billion, averaging N238 million per kilometre. Meanwhile, the Iseyin–Ogbomoso road, 76 kilometres long, cost around N43 billion, averaging N500 million per kilometre, which included two bridges over the Ogun River and at Ogbomoso. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700-kilometre road cutting across nine states with two spurs to northern states, was launched last year. Umahi recently handed over the first phase—a 47.47-kilometre dual carriageway—to Hitech Construction Company Limited for construction with concrete pavement. Accompanied by the Federal Ministry of Works’ Lagos State Controller, Mrs. O. I. Kesha, Umahi emphasized that contractors must complete projects on schedule and warned that delays or cost variations would not be tolerated once mobilization is complete. Makinde’s intervention has reignited public debate over accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s major infrastructure projects, highlighting citizens’ demand for clear and detailed reporting on government spending.