Engineer David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has addressed remarks made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, concerning the ongoing debate over the expenses related to road construction projects under the current government.
On Thursday, Governor Makinde criticized Umahi for not providing transparent details about the project costs during his appearance on Arise TV. Read more here.
In response, Umahi voiced his dissatisfaction while overseeing the Keffi segment of the Abuja-Mararaba-Keffi road alongside Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule on Saturday, October 11.
“I hold great respect for governors and the Governors Forum; however, when a governor who is less experienced than I am in both engineering and governance directs insults at me, I feel compelled to respond.
Mathematics is one of my strongest skills-I excelled in it academically. Regarding the debate on cost per kilometer, I have clarified that the project spans approximately 43 kilometers, but we extended it to about 45 kilometers to fully utilize the N73 billion allocated by the previous administration.
The cost varies depending on the type of work done: surface dressing on the shoulder differs in price from asphalt application, which in turn differs from concrete paving, as is the case here. It is misleading to demand a single cost figure for the entire road length without considering these variations. A more accurate approach is to estimate the cost per kilometer by dividing the total budget into sections.
For instance, dividing the N73 billion by 45 kilometers gives an estimated cost per kilometer. This figure includes contingencies and provisional sums that may not be fully expended. Upon project completion, after removing unused contingencies and provisional sums, the actual cost might be between N40 billion and N70 billion for roughly 50 kilometers. Only then can an average definitive cost per kilometer be calculated.
When I heard my colleague and friend, Governor Makinde, make his comments-I hesitate to engage in a dispute with him. Although he is an engineer specializing in electrical and electronics engineering, road construction is a different discipline. I am senior to him in both governance and engineering practice. If he has questions, he should reach out to me directly. I respect all governors, including him, as a brother and friend.
However, he should retract his claim that I am evading the issue. I have never done so. If he insists, I am open to a public debate. There is no confusion about cost per kilometer; what I am explaining is the distinction between estimated costs, which include potential variances, and average costs, which are definitive.
Similarly, when someone unfamiliar with the subject consults AI to understand the difference between cost per kilometer and average cost, I am pleased that the AI confirmed what I have explained. I also appreciate the NUC program recognizing my expertise. One can earn the title of professor through practical experience, and I believe my field engineering background qualifies me as such. This is the reality, and it cannot be disputed.”
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