Lagos-Calabar Coastal road: I’m an ‘A’ student, your senior in engineering – Umahi replies Makinde

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Saturday described himself as a senior to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

Umahi said he was an A student and a senior to Makinde in the field of engineering.

He was reacting to Makinde’s criticism against him over the controversy surrounding the cost per kilometer of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The controversy started during an interview on Arise Television when Rufai Oseni recalled asking the Minister about the cost per kilometer.

Commenting on the saga, Makinde, who insisted that Rufai was right to have asked about the cost per kilometer, mocked Umahi, saying he was dancing around the cost when asked.

However, speaking during the inspection of the Keffi section of the Abuja-Mararaba-Keffi Road, alongside the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Umahi 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.

“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.”