David Umahi Defends ₦1.06tn Lagos-Calabar Highway Costs

David Umahi, the Minister of Works, defended the ₦1.06tn contract sum for Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, stating that the project is competitively priced when considering its engineering specifications, terrain, and supporting infrastructure. In an interview with ARISE News, he explained that critics misrepresented the cost by dividing the total by the road length without accounting for multiple carriageways and other infrastructure.

The highway, covering 47.47 kilometres from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos State, costs approximately ₦7.3bn to ₦7.5bn per kilometre when adjusted for a standard two-lane carriageway. Umahi noted the extensive ground preparation required, including soil removal and raising the road level.

He also cited rising construction material costs, particularly concrete, which increased from ₦350,000 to ₦460,000 per cubic metre since the project's inception. The financing by Deutsche Bank, which deemed the project underpriced, further supports Umahi's claims of competitive pricing.