UMAHI KNOCKS MAKINDE OVER COMMENT ON LAGOS-CALABAR HIGHWAY COST
Read Time:2 Minute, 45 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has responded to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his remarks questioning the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the governor misunderstood the technical and financial structure behind the project.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the Keffi Bridge and Nasarawa–Toto Road projects alongside Governor Abdullahi Sule on Saturday, Umahi said the project’s cost was “carefully computed in line with global engineering standards” and should not be reduced to “political soundbites.”
Makinde, in a viral video on Friday, had queried the minister’s figures, saying there was no need for Umahi to be “dancing around the cost” of the highway.
He said, “These are elementary questions. And it makes no sense (sic). 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.”
Reacting, Umahi described Makinde as “a brother and friend” but said it was improper for him to publicly accuse him of “dancing around” figures.
“I heard that my brother and friend, Governor Makinde of Oyo state, said something about the cost per kilometre. I don’t want to join issues with him. I think he is an engineer, I think he is an electrician, they call it ‘elect-elect’. But this road construction matter, ‘elect-elect no reach there’,” Umahi said.
He continued, “I am his senior both in governance and in engineering practice. So, anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask. I have great respect for him as my friend and brother, but he should withdraw the statement that I’m dancing around. I never danced around. If he insists, he should come for a debate, which is very important.”
Umahi clarified that there was “no ambiguity in cost per kilometre,” explaining that the term can refer to both estimated and average costs.
“There is no ambiguity in cost per kilometre,” he said.
“I am teaching them that cost per kilometre can be divided into estimated cost, which has elements of variance, and average cost, which is definitive. The average cost of a definitive project and the estimated cost are probable elements.”
He further explained that estimated costs include allowances for contingencies and variation of price (VOP), which may not be used.
“When the project is completed, and you remove what you didn’t use, such as contingencies and VOP, then you have your actual cost,” he added.
Umahi also took a swipe at critics who sought AI clarification on the issue.
“When somebody who is dangling without knowledge goes to ask AI what the difference is between cost per kilometre and average cost, I’m happy that AI told him exactly what I said,” he quipped.
He concluded by noting that practical experience also defines expertise, citing the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) stance.
“I’m happy that the NUC programme on who is a professor also made me right. You can become a professor by the reason of your practice. And I think God has made me one when it comes to practical, field engineering programmes. That’s what it is; you can’t take it back,” Umahi said.
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