By Gbenga Oresanya,
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has publicly challenged the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, demanding that he withdraw a recent statement that accused the Minister of “dancing around” the cost of the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Minister Umahi, a former two-term governor of Ebonyi State, asserted his seniority in both governance and engineering practice, urging Governor Makinde to seek clarification privately instead of making public accusations.
The heated exchange stems from a public debate surrounding the per-kilometre cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship project of the current administration.
The controversy was amplified following a viral video where Governor Makinde, an Electrical/Electronics Engineer, critiqued Minister Umahi’s earlier refusal to provide a specific cost per kilometre for the project during a televised interview. In his remarks, Makinde had implied a lack of transparency, stating that there was no need for the Minister to be “dancing around the cost” when elementary questions about the average cost of the road were being asked.
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Speaking during an inspection tour of the Keffi Bridge and Nasarawa–Toto Road projects on Saturday, Minister Umahi fired back, expressing his displeasure at the Oyo Governor’s comments.
“I heard that my brother and friend, Governor Makinde, said something about the cost per kilometre. I don’t want to join issues with him, but he should withdraw the statement that I’m dancing around,” Umahi stated. “I never danced around.”
Umahi, who served as a state governor before Makinde, emphasized his status as the Governor’s senior, both politically and professionally.
“I am his senior both in governance and in engineering practice,” the Minister asserted. “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.”
Technical Defence and Debate Challenge
The Minister went on to provide a detailed, technical defense of his position on the road’s costing, arguing that Makinde’s critique demonstrated a misunderstanding of complex civil engineering cost computation.
Umahi explained that road costs are subject to various factors and can be categorized into estimated cost (which includes contingencies and elements of variance) and average cost (which is definitive and can only be calculated upon project completion).
“This is road construction. Electrical-Electronics no reach there,” Umahi quipped, referencing Makinde’s engineering background.
He concluded his rebuttal with a direct challenge to the Oyo Governor. “If he insists, he should come for a debate, which is very important.”
The public spat between the two high-ranking officials underscores the intense scrutiny currently focused on the cost and transparency of major federal infrastructure projects, even as Minister Umahi attempts to defend his ministry’s technical and financial processes.
