The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reacted angrily to comments made by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde regarding the ongoing controversy over the cost of road projects under the current administration.
Umahi expressed his displeasure on Saturday while inspecting the Keffi section of the Abuja–Mararaba–Keffi road in the company of Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule.
He said, “I have a lot of respect for governors and the Governors’ Forum, but if a governor who is far my junior in both engineering and governance insults me, I will respond. One thing I am very good at is mathematics, I was an A student in mathematics.”
Addressing the issue of project costs, Umahi explained, “This controversy about cost per kilometre, I have already said that this project is about 43 kilometres, but we have extended it to 45 kilometres to fully utilise the ₦73 billion allocated by the previous administration.
“The cost depends on what materials are used. If we are doing surface tracing on the shoulders, it’s one cost; if we are using asphalt or concrete as we are doing now, it’s another.
“It is mischievous to ask for the cost of a kilometre of road simply. You can only estimate it by dividing the total cost—₦73 billion—by the total distance of 45 kilometers. That gives you an estimated cost, which includes contingencies and variation of price (VOP) elements that may not even be used.”
The minister added that the final cost per kilometre can only be determined after completion.
“When you finish and remove unused contingencies and VOP, and maybe you have spent ₦40 or ₦70 billion for 50 kilometres, then you can calculate the average cost. That’s when the figure becomes definitive.”
Responding to Makinde’s remarks, Umahi said he would not ordinarily want to engage his colleague but felt compelled to correct misinformation.
“When I heard that my brother and friend, Governor Makinde, said I am dancing around, I chose not to join issues with him. I think he is an engineer, an electrical and electronics engineer. But this is civil engineering, road construction; electrical electronics no reach there.
“I am his senior in governance and engineering practice. If there’s something he doesn’t understand, he should call and ask me. I respect him as my friend and brother, but he should withdraw that statement. I never danced around. If he insists, he should come for a debate — that’s very important.”
Umahi added, “There is no ambiguity in cost per kilometre. I’m teaching them that there’s an estimated cost with variance and an average cost that is definitive.
“Anyone asking AI what the difference is, AI already told him what I told him. I’m happy that even the NUC programme on who qualifies as a professor supports me, one can become a professor by practical experience, and I believe God has made me one in field of engineering.”
