David Umahi Disputes N15 Trillion Cost of Coastal Highway

David Umahi, the Minister of Works, announced that the total cost of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is currently undetermined, refuting the widely cited N15 trillion figure as incorrect. In an interview on Arise Television, Umahi explained that the federal government is procuring the highway in sections, with costs varying based on terrain, soil conditions, and engineering requirements.

He challenged critics to clarify how they arrived at the N15 trillion estimate, arguing that such calculations cannot be made without detailed designs for each section. Umahi noted that the highway project has been a topic of controversy regarding costs, procurement processes, and transparency, as it is one of President Bola Tinubu’s flagship infrastructure initiatives.

He mentioned that the highway was first proposed in 1955 and that a concept was developed in 2006, but he found no comprehensive engineering designs or relevant documents in the archives of the Federal Ministry of Works. Environmental assessments and soil investigations are necessary to determine construction costs.