Minister of Works David Umahi has hit back at Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his remarks questioning the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting the governor misunderstood how such figures are determined in large-scale engineering projects.
Speaking on Saturday during an inspection of the Keffi Bridge and the Nasarawa–Toto Road projects with Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Umahi said the cost of the Lagos-Calabar project was calculated strictly according to global construction standards and should not be trivialized for political gain.
Makinde, in a viral video on Friday, had taken a swipe at Umahi, saying the minister was “dancing around the cost” of the project and failing to provide clear explanations on how funds were being spent.
Responding, Umahi described Makinde as a “brother and friend” but said his comment was misplaced. “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,” Umahi said. “He is an engineer, while I am an electrical engineer — and this road construction matter, ‘elect-elect no reach there’.”
He 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 have great respect for him, but he should withdraw that statement about me dancing around figures. If he insists, we can have a debate — that would be important.”
Explaining further, Umahi said there was no confusion in determining the project’s cost per kilometre, clarifying that it must be viewed in both estimated and average terms. “The estimated cost includes contingencies and variations that may not be used. When the project is completed and you remove what wasn’t spent, that gives you the actual cost,” he said.
The minister also poked fun at critics who had sought explanations from Artificial Intelligence to challenge his figures. “When someone without proper understanding goes to ask AI what the difference is between cost per kilometre and average cost, I’m glad AI confirmed exactly what I said,” he quipped.
Umahi further emphasized his professional experience, saying practical expertise in engineering should be recognized as a form of professorship. “The NUC has said that one can become a professor through practical experience. I believe God has made me one in field engineering — and that’s something you can’t take away,” he said.
