In another dimension to the running controversies over the coastal highway being undertaking by the federal government, the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, has reacted angrily to comments made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde over the cost of road projects under the current administration.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In another dimension to the running controversies over the coastal highway being undertaking by the federal government, the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, has reacted angrily to comments made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde over the cost of road projects under the current administration. Umahi who was Ebonyi State governor between 2015 and 2023, insinuated that he was senior to the Oyo governor in engineering and governance.
Umahi made his feelings known while inspecting the Keffi section of the Abuja-Mararaba-Keffi Road, along side the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Saturday.
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He said; “I have a lot of respect for governors and the Governors Forum. But if a governor that is far my junior in engineering and governance insults me, I will talk back. One thing I’m very good at is Mathematics. I’m an ‘A’ student in mathematics.”
Makinde had weighed in on the cost of the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project that was approved by President Bola Tinubu. The governor who spoke at an event in a viral video on Friday, said there was no need for Umahi, to be “dancing around the cost” of the project.
The governor was reacting to a heated exchange that unfolded live on television between Umahi and Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni on Tuesday. Oseni had requested the minister to analyse the cost of the project, kilometre by kilometre.
In reaction to Makinde, Umahi said: “This controversy about cost per kilometer, I have told you that this project is about 43 kilometres. But we have increased it to utilize the money given for the project by the last administration, which was N73 billion. We have increased it to about 45 kilometers. If we are doing surface tracing on the shoulder, the cost will be different. If we are using asphalt on the shoulder, the cost will be different. If we are using concrete as we are using, the cost will be different.
“It is being mischievous when you ask for the cost of a length of road, but by the professorial information, you can ask for cost per kilometer; could be divided to sections. First, estimated cost, and estimated cost of this project, you can divide N73 billion over 45 kilometers,. That is the estimated cost. This cost has the element of contingency.
“When you have finished this project – and of course, you can see that in this project, there are places you are using the existing median and there are places you will construct new median – will the cost be the same? It is not possible.
“When you have finished, you remove the vop, you remove contingency, you have not used. It is N40 or N70 billion, and probably you have done 50 kilometers. Then that is when you divide and have an average cost. Average cost of definitive and estimated cost is a probable element.
“When I heard that somebody, my brother and friend Governor Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State said… I don’t want to join issues with him. I think he is an engineer, an electrician. They called it electrical electronics. This is road construction. I am his senior in governance and his senior in engineering practice. And so anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask and I will not join issue because I have respect for our governors.
“I have respect for him as my friend and brother but, he should withdraw the word that am dancing around. I never danced around and if he insists, he should come for debate. That is very important. There is no ambiguity in cost per kilometer. But I am teaching them that cost per kilometer could be divided into estimated cost, which has element of variance and average cost, which is definitive. That is what it is”.
