ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Works David Umahi has defended the cost structure of the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway following criticism from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who questioned the transparency of the project’s pricing per kilometre.
The Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has faced scrutiny over its multi-billion-naira cost estimates.
The debate intensified after Makinde, during a public appearance, accused Umahi of “dancing around” questions about the highway’s cost during a televised interview.
In an Arise Television interview, anchor Oseni Rufai had asked the minister to state the project’s average cost per kilometre.
Umahi, visibly irritated, said the figures were too technical to be explained in simple terms, describing himself as a “professor” of engineering practice.
Makinde later mocked the minister’s response, insisting the question was legitimate.
“They asked a minister how much the coastal road is, and then you are dancing around,” Makinde said.
“When we did the Oyo–Iseyin road, it was about N10 billion for 35 kilometres — an average of about N238 million per kilometre. The Iseyin–Ogbomoso road was 76 kilometres at about N43 billion, which is around N500 million per kilometre, and that included two bridges.”
Responding on Saturday, October 11, 2025, during an inspection of the Keffi Bridge and Nasarawa–Toto road projects, Umahi described Makinde’s comments as a misunderstanding of engineering cost evaluation.
“I heard that my brother and friend, Governor Makinde, said something about the cost per kilometre,” Umahi said.
“I don’t want to join issues with him. I think he is an engineer, while I am an electrical engineer — they call us ‘elect-elect’. But this road construction matter, ‘elect-elect no reach there’.”
Umahi said the costs were determined according to international standards and should not be reduced to what he called “political soundbites”.
He also urged Makinde to seek clarification privately rather than make public accusations.
“I am his senior both in governance and in engineering practice,” Umahi added.
“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. If he insists, he should come for a debate — it’s very important.”
The minister explained that there was no ambiguity in the pricing model.
“Cost can be divided into estimated, which has elements of variance, and average, which is definitive,” he said.
“The average cost is based on actual work, while the estimated cost allows for probable variations such as contingencies and price adjustments.”
Umahi also took a swipe at critics who, he claimed, relied on artificial intelligence tools to challenge his explanation of cost differences.
“When someone lacking technical knowledge goes to ask AI about the difference between estimated and average cost, I’m glad AI told him exactly what I said,” he quipped.
He further cited the National Universities Commission’s clarification on professorship criteria, asserting that practical experience confers academic equivalence.
“You can become a professor through practice,” Umahi said.
“God has made me one when it comes to practical field engineering — you can’t take it back.”
The Lagos–Calabar coastal highway, stretching over 700 kilometres, remains one of Nigeria’s most ambitious transport projects.
Construction is ongoing, with officials insisting that due diligence and cost control measures are being observed.
