The Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, on Saturday reacted to the remarks made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, concerning his recent statement on the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
During an inspection visit to the Keffi Bridge and the Nasarawa-Toto Road projects, Umahi, who was accompanied by Governor Abdullahi Sule, said Governor Makinde misunderstood the technical parameters and cost breakdown of the highway project.
The Minister stated that the project cost had been properly documented in line with international engineering procedures and should not be turned into “political soundbites.”
According to reports, Makinde had faulted the Minister’s figures on the cost per kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a major infrastructure initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Makinde said at an event on Friday that there was no reason for the Minister of Works to be “dancing around the cost” of the project.
He said, “These are elementary questions. And it makes no sense (sic). A process is ongoing, payment has been made, and you are saying, ‘How has this money been utilised?’ The money is meant for the project, and it will be paid according to the work done.”
Responding to the criticism, the Minister of Works described Makinde as “A brother and friend” but said it was inappropriate for him to make such a public claim that he was “dancing around” figures.
“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,” Umahi stated. “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’.”
“I am his senior both in governance and in engineering practice. 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 that I’m dancing around.
“I never danced around. If he insists, he should come for a debate, which is very important.”
Providing further clarification, Umahi said the cost per kilometre for the project is clearly defined and must be interpreted in two categories — estimated cost and average cost.
“There is no ambiguity in cost per kilometre,” he said. “I am teaching them that cost per kilometre can be divided into estimated cost, which has elements of variance, and average cost, which is definitive. The average cost of a definitive project and the estimated cost are probable elements.”
He added that the estimated cost includes provisions for contingencies and price variation, which may not be used at the end of the project.
“When the project is completed, and you remove what you didn’t use, such as contingencies and VOP, then you have your actual cost,” he noted.
“When somebody who is dangling without knowledge goes to ask AI what the difference is between cost per kilometre and average cost, I’m happy that AI told him exactly what I said,” the Minister added.
He also referenced the National Universities Commission’s stance on the qualifications of a professor, noting that hands-on experience also confers expertise.
“I’m happy that the NUC programme on who is a professor also made me right. You can become a professor by the reason of your practice. And I think God has made me one when it comes to practical, field engineering programmes, that’s what it is; you can’t take it back,” Umahi said.