October 10, (THEWILL) — Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has faulted Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, over his refusal to disclose the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying Nigerians have a right to know how public funds are being spent.
Makinde made the comment on Friday while reacting to Umahi’s heated exchange with Arise TV presenter, Rufai Oseni, during a live interview that went viral earlier in the week.
The governor defended the journalist’s question, saying there was nothing wrong in asking for transparency on a project funded with taxpayers’ money.
“They asked a minister how much the coastal road is, and then you (Umahi) are dancing around the cost, saying the next kilometre is different from the next. Then what is the average cost?” Makinde asked.
He cited examples from his own administration to show that the average cost of road projects can easily be disclosed.
“When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road, it was about N9.99 billion, almost N10 billion, for about 34 to 35 kilometres, which is roughly N238 million per kilometre.
“When we did the Iseyin to Ogbomoso road — 76 kilometres, it was about N43 billion, which comes to about N500 million per kilometre. And we had two bridges: one over the Ogun River and another at the Ogbomoso end,” he explained.
Umahi’s clash with Oseni erupted after the journalist requested a cost breakdown of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on a per-kilometre basis.
Visibly angered by the question, Umahi dismissed it as “elementary,” insisting that construction costs vary from one stretch to another.
“How can you be asking for the cost of a 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,” the minister retorted during the interview.
Despite Umahi’s remarks, Oseni maintained his composure, responding, “Minister, it’s alright. Keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.”
Makinde’s reaction adds to the growing public debate over the transparency and accountability surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway — one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s history.
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