Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has publicly called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to cease making what he considers inflammatory and unsubstantiated statements, particularly regarding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. Umahi challenged Obasanjo to provide concrete evidence for his claims that the project is wasteful and corrupt.
Speaking in Lagos, Umahi addressed the former president’s criticisms, expressing his disappointment and highlighting their past relationship. He stated that Obasanjo, whom he considers a mentor, had previously praised his transparency during his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State.
Umahi suggested that if Obasanjo now alleges corruption in his projects, it implies that he learned such practices from his mentor.
Umahi also questioned Obasanjo’s moral authority to level such accusations, referencing past government initiatives under Obasanjo’s administration, such as the Siemens Power project, Nitel, and privatization deals, which he suggested did not achieve their intended outcomes.
Responding directly to Obasanjo’s criticisms of the coastal highway project, Umahi questioned the validity of the claims. “Is it wasteful to create an evacuation corridor for the Dangote Refinery, deep sea ports, and free trade zones?” he asked. “Is it wasteful to connect existing road infrastructure? Is it wasteful to incorporate windmill energy along the route? Is it wasteful to alleviate congestion at Apapa and Calabar ports?”
He further challenged Obasanjo to substantiate his claims of wastefulness and corruption, demanding specific reasons and evidence. “When you say it is wasteful, you have not told us why. When you say it is corrupt, you haven’t told us why,” Umahi stated. “If a father suddenly calls his son corrupt, the son has the right to defend himself. And if the father insists, it suggests the son learned it from him.”
Umahi also refuted Obasanjo’s $11 billion cost estimate for the project, arguing that the figures were not based on current economic realities. He emphasized that the Lagos-Calabar project utilizes durable concrete pavement, unlike the more vulnerable asphalt roads. Umahi advised Obasanjo to focus on writing memoirs rather than criticizing infrastructure projects that he failed to implement during his presidency.
He clarified that he was addressing the criticisms as the Minister of Works, stating, “The project is not wasteful and corrupt. I have seen on social media where people ask why the government or the contractor is not explaining. As the Minister of Works, I am qualified to explain the project.” He was responding to Obasanjo’s comments in his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’, where he criticized corruption in both federal and state governments.”
