By Abdulqodir Abubakar
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has criticised Minister of Works David Umahi for evading questions about the cost breakdown of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, urging more transparency in handling the multibillion-naira project.
Speaking at an event captured in a viral video on Friday, Makinde said there was no reason for the minister to be “dancing around the cost” of the controversial project approved by President Bola Tinubu.
His comments came days after Umahi clashed live on television with Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni, who had asked for a kilometre-by-kilometre analysis of the highway’s cost.
Umahi, visibly irritated, dismissed the question as “elementary,” arguing that construction costs vary across segments and could not be simplified for public understanding.
“The prices are different. The next kilometre is different from the next kilometre,” Umahi said, insisting that payment will be based on verified progress certificates approved through due process.
Makinde’s reaction adds to the growing scrutiny over the coastal highway project, which has faced public concern over its cost, transparency, and environmental impact.
