Minister of Works, David Umahi, has fired back at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his recent comments on the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, saying the governor’s remarks stemmed from a poor understanding of engineering processes.
Umahi, who spoke during an inspection of the Abuja–Mararaba–Keffi Road in Nasarawa State alongside Governor Abdullahi Sule, said he respected governors across the country but would not tolerate “insults” from anyone junior to him in governance and engineering.
“If a governor who is far my junior in engineering and governance insults me, I will talk back. I’m very good at Mathematics — an ‘A’ student in it,” Umahi said.
Addressing the cost controversy, Umahi clarified that road project costs cannot be determined per kilometre without considering factors like design scope, material type, and structural variations.
“This project was initially 43 kilometres but has been extended to 45 kilometres using the ₦73 billion earlier allocated by the previous administration,” he explained.
“Costs differ depending on whether we use surface dressing, asphalt, or concrete — so asking for a single per-kilometre rate without context is misleading.”
He added that the final cost of the project can only be established upon completion, noting that elements such as contingencies and price variations would later be adjusted.
“When the project is completed, you remove unused contingencies and variations before calculating an average cost. That’s when you can talk about a definitive figure,” Umahi stated.
Referring directly to Makinde, the minister said he preferred not to “trade words” but urged the Oyo governor to seek clarification privately.
“Governor Makinde is my friend and brother, but he should withdraw his claim that I’m ‘dancing around’. I never danced around. If he insists, let him come for a public debate,” Umahi said.
“He’s an electrical or electronic engineer, but this is civil engineering — a different field. Anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask.”
Umahi also revealed that his inspection tour aimed to address roadside encroachments causing traffic congestion, pledging federal support to Nasarawa State in restoring road access.
The dispute follows Umahi’s recent appearance on Arise Television, where he refused to state a specific cost per kilometre for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, leading to a wider public debate about project transparency and accountability.
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