Makinde Calls Out Umahi Over Coastal Highway Cost Analysis
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has openly criticised the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for what he described as a lack of transparency in the cost analysis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Speaking at an event in a viral video that surfaced on Friday, Makinde questioned why the minister appeared to be “dancing around the cost” of the multibillion-naira project, urging the Federal Government to come clean on its financial details.
Makinde said Nigerians deserved full disclosure on how much was being spent on the coastal highway, given its magnitude and implications for the national economy.
He emphasised that transparency was critical to ensuring public trust and accountability in government projects.
“There’s no need for the Minister of Works to be dancing around the cost,” Makinde said. “People have a right to know what the project costs, how it’s being funded, and the expected benefits.
That’s how we build confidence in governance.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, spearheaded by Umahi’s ministry, is one of the Federal Government’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, designed to connect key coastal cities and stimulate economic growth.
However, the project has attracted controversy over issues ranging from cost implications and environmental concerns to displacement of businesses and communities.
While Umahi has repeatedly defended the project, insisting that it will be delivered with due process and value for money, Makinde’s comments have reignited public debate about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure development.
As of press time, the Minister of Works had yet to respond to Makinde’s remarks.
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