Minister of Works, David Umahi, has responded sharply to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde’s recent remarks questioning the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the governor’s comments stemmed from a misunderstanding of technical and engineering details.
Umahi, who spoke on Saturday during an inspection tour of the Keffi Bridge and the Nasarawa–Toto Road projects with Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, insisted that the cost of the 700-kilometre coastal highway was computed in line with international engineering standards.
He cautioned against turning serious national infrastructure projects into what he described as “political soundbites.”
Governor Makinde had, in a viral video on Friday, faulted the minister’s explanation of the highway’s cost structure, saying there was “no need for him to dance around figures.” The governor questioned transparency in the payment process for the multi-trillion-naira project, one of President Bola Tinubu’s flagship infrastructure initiatives.
In his response, Umahi described Makinde as “a brother and friend” but stressed that his criticism was misplaced.
“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 an electrical engineer — they call it ‘elect-elect.’ But this road construction matter, ‘elect-elect no reach there,’” Umahi quipped.
The former Ebonyi governor maintained that the Lagos-Calabar project’s design and costing process followed due diligence, including soil testing, environmental impact assessments, and modern coastal engineering techniques to protect the shoreline.
“This is not a conventional road; it’s a super highway along the coastline, with complex terrain and design specifications. Every cost element — from sand filling to asphalt thickness — has been verified by experts,” Umahi stated.
He added that the project would open new economic corridors across Nigeria’s southern region, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen tourism and trade.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, stretching from Lagos to Cross River, is being constructed by Hitech Construction Company Ltd. and is expected to be completed in phases.
