Seyi Makinde Questions Works Minister on Coastal Road Expenses

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has criticised the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for avoiding clear answers about the price of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which President Bola Tinubu has greenlit.

Speaking at a public gathering captured in a widely shared video on Friday, Makinde argued that the minister should not evade straightforward questions on the road’s overall expense.

His comments followed a lively on-air debate on Tuesday between Umahi and a presenter from Arise TV, Rufai Oseni. The host had pressed for a breakdown of the project’s costs section by section, mile by mile.

Umahi took offence at the query, proclaiming himself an expert engineer and insisting that expenses differ from one stretch to the next, making it too intricate for the interviewer to grasp. He remarked that such basics made little sense, as payments follow approved stages and verified progress. Funds go to funders only after checks confirm the labour completed. He dismissed the idea of uniform pricing per mile, urging the presenter to stay silent on topics beyond his ken. As a seasoned authority in the field, Umahi claimed full command of the subject, while the questioner lacked any real insight.

Oseni stood his ground, replying that the minister should carry on praising himself so everyone could see his true character.

Backing the presenter’s line of questioning, Makinde pointed out the need for an average figure if individual segments vary so much. He drew from his own state’s road builds for comparison. The route from Oyo to Iseyin, spanning roughly 34 to 35 miles, cost nearly 10 billion naira, working out to about 238 million naira per mile on average. The extension from Iseyin to Ogbomoso covered 76 miles for 43 billion naira, averaging around 500 million naira per mile, and included two bridges—one across the Ogun River and another at the Ogbomoso side.

Federal officials revealed last year the start of building work on the 700-mile Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which threads through nine states and branches off to reach northern areas.

Umahi shared this during the formal transfer of the initial 47.47-mile dual-lane section to Hitech Construction Company Limited, set for concrete surfacing.

His media adviser noted that the minister, alongside the ministry’s Lagos controller, Mrs O. I. Kesha, stressed the importance of swift completion by all contractors on national road jobs. He warned against any cost overruns from hold-ups or sluggish efforts after initial funding.