Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticized Works Minister David Umahi over the handling of questions about the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, urging transparency in the project’s pricing.
Makinde’s remarks came after a fiery exchange on Tuesday between Umahi and Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni. During the interview, Oseni pressed the minister to break down the project’s cost per kilometre. Umahi resisted, arguing that the varying costs across different sections made such a breakdown too complicated and insisting he was a “professor” in engineering. He 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.”
Undeterred, Oseni replied, “Minister, it’s alright, keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.”
Makinde later defended the journalist’s question, highlighting the need for clarity 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 approximately N43 billion, averaging N500 million per kilometre, including two bridges over the Ogun River and at Ogbomoso.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700-kilometre project crossing 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.
Umahi, accompanied by the Federal Ministry of Works’ Lagos State Controller, Mrs. O. I. Kesha, emphasized that contractors must complete federal road projects on schedule, warning against delays or cost variations once mobilization is completed.
Makinde’s comments have reignited discussions on accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s major infrastructure projects, highlighting public demand for clear reporting on government spending.
