Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticized the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for failing to provide a clear breakdown of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project cost, saying there was no need for the minister to “dance around” the issue.
Makinde’s comment came in reaction to a viral video of a heated exchange between Umahi and Arise Television presenter, Rufai Oseni, during a live broadcast earlier in the week.
In the video, Oseni had requested the minister to explain the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project on a kilometre-by-kilometre basis. The question apparently angered Umahi, who retorted that such inquiries showed “elementary knowledge,” insisting that the cost could not be simplified as requested.
The Minister stated, “These are elementary questions. And it makes no sense. A process is ongoing, payment has been made, and you are saying, ‘how has this money been utilised?’ The money is meant for the project, and it will be paid according to the work done.
“When a certificate is generated, and it is approved through a process in the Ministry of Works, it will then be given to the funders, who will, in turn, check if the works were done. How can you be asking for cost per kilometre? The prices are different. The next kilometre is different from the next kilometre.
“Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. You don’t understand anything. I understand engineering very well. You have no knowledge of what you ask.”
Oseni, refusing to back down, responded sharply: “Minister, it’s alright, keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.”
Makinde Weighs In
Reacting to the incident, Governor Makinde argued that Oseni’s question was valid and that Umahi owed Nigerians transparency regarding public spending on such a major infrastructure project.
“They asked a minister how much the coastal road costs, and then you (Umahi) are dancing around and saying that no, the next kilometre is different from the next kilometre. Then what is the average cost?” Makinde questioned.
Drawing from his own administration’s experience, Makinde compared the figures to similar projects undertaken in Oyo State.
“When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road then, it was about ₦9.99 billion, almost ₦10 billion. About 34 or 35 kilometres, average cost is about ₦238 million per kilometre.
“But when we did Iseyin to Ogbomoso, that was 76 kilometres, it was about ₦43 billion, average cost is about ₦500 million per kilometre. And we had two bridges, one over the Ogun River and then one at Ogbomoso end,” he said.
Background of the Project
The Federal Government had, in 2024, announced the commencement of the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project spanning nine states with two additional spurs linking the northern part of the country.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, during the official handover of the project’s first phase—47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway—to Hitech Construction Company Limited, disclosed that the highway would be constructed using concrete pavement.
According to a statement by Umahi’s Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, the Minister, accompanied by the Federal Ministry of Works Controller for Lagos State, Mrs. O. I. Kesha, urged contractors handling federal projects to deliver within record time, stressing that the government would not tolerate delays or cost variations once mobilization had been completed.
The project has been one of the most discussed infrastructure initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, with debates surrounding its cost transparency and environmental implications continuing to stir public discourse.
Public Concern and Transparency
Governor Makinde’s remarks reflect growing public interest in accountability for national infrastructure projects, particularly those involving multi-billion-naira expenditures. Analysts have continued to emphasize the need for clarity and open communication between government officials and the public on how taxpayers’ money is being utilized.
Okay News reports that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, if properly executed and monitored, has the potential to transform transportation, trade, and tourism across Nigeria’s coastal states. However, experts maintain that transparency and efficiency are critical to ensuring the project achieves its intended economic benefits.
