The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has dismissed claims by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, regarding the cost of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, describing the figures circulating in public as misleading.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Umahi explained that the cost of road projects varies depending on location, design, and materials used. He said those promoting a uniform cost per kilometre are not being sincere. The minister made the statement during an inspection of the Abuja–Keffi–Akwanga–Lafia–Makurdi dual carriageway in Nasarawa State, alongside Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Responding to Governor Makinde’s comments accusing him of avoiding questions about the highway’s true cost, Umahi said he would not engage in unnecessary arguments but invited Makinde to a public debate. The minister, who described himself as a “professor by practice,” stated that the 43-kilometre section of the coastal project was extended to 45 kilometres under the same ₦73 billion budget — proof, he said, of transparent and efficient management.
As reported by Mediaplusng.com, Umahi urged critics and the public to seek technical understanding before commenting on complex engineering projects, stressing that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway remains one of the most strategic infrastructure developments in Nigeria’s history.
