•David Umahi
The federal government has promised to disclose to the public the total cost and breakdown of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project on Friday.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, said this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, yesterday in Abuja.
Umahi also explained that despite the soaring costs of materials in the construction industry due to commodity price inflation and supply chain disruptions, the ministry is committed to prudence, cost-effectiveness, promptness, and quality delivery of road projects remains unmatched.
The minister’s assurance comes against the backdrop of serious contentions in recent days over the costs and bidding process of the 700km coastal highway project.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier yesterday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disclose the full cost of the Lagos-Calabar highway project.
Reacting, Umahi said, “He (Atiku Abubakar) doesn’t understand figures. I am going to run figures for him to understand, and he will understand how prudent the administration of President Tinubu has been.
“He will understand how prudency is taking centre stage in this administration. The President has once queried me on the cost of ongoing projects nationwide. I had to analyse every basic rate of construction materials to arrive at our unit rates. I showed it to Mr. President. He still thinks I should bring down the cost of projects.
“At the same time, the contractors are crying that I am oppressing them so much by reviewing the costs of their projects downwards. They lamented that what they were getting before, they are no longer getting it now. They cried out. But when I run the figures, Nigerians will see what this present administration is doing.
“So, I’m not here to run the figures now. I will do that in a press conference on my visit to Lagos from April 10, 2024 to April 12, 2024.”
