Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, don come out strong against Minister of Works, David Umahi, over the plenty confusion wey surround the cost of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project wey President Bola Tinubu government approve.
Governor Makinde, wey talk for one viral video on Friday, say Umahi no suppose dey “dance around the cost” of the project when Nigerians dey ask simple question about how much per kilometre the road go cost.
This matter start after one hot exchange wey happen live on Arise TV between Umahi and journalist Rufai Oseni. Oseni bin ask the minister to break down the cost kilometre by kilometre, but Umahi vex say such question “no make sense,” and claim say the cost no fit be the same for every part of the road.
The minister talk say, “Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. You no understand anything about engineering.”
But Governor Makinde no gree that kind response. He talk say Nigerians deserve to know how much government dey spend for such big project.
“They asked a minister how much the coastal road cost, and you say the next kilometre different from the next. Then wetin be the average cost?” Makinde ask.
He come use him own state project take example:
“When we do Oyo to Iseyin road that time, e cost about ₦10 billion for 35 kilometres — that one be about ₦238 million per kilometre. The Iseyin to Ogbomoso road wey be 76 kilometres cost ₦43 billion — average ₦500 million per kilometre, and that one get two bridges.”
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway na 700km road wey go pass nine states and get two extra spurs go northern Nigeria. The first 47.47km dual carriageway na Hitech Construction Company Limited dey handle, with concrete pavement design.
Minister Umahi don talk before say all contractors must deliver on time and within the approved cost, as federal government no go accept any delay or variation once dem don mobilise the contractor.
