The Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, has reacted to comments made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde over the ongoing controversy about the cost of road projects under the current administration.
Governor Makinde on Thursday berated Umahi for failing to reveal details in the costing of the project when he appeared on Arise TV.
Responding, Umahi expressed his disappointment while inspecting the Keffi section of the Abuja- Mararaba-Keffi road, along side the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Saturday, October 11.
“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, it 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 estimated, could be divided to sections.
First, estimated cost, and estimated cost of this project, you can divide N73 billion over 45 kilometers, that is the estimated cost. This cost has the element of contingency and element of vop, they may not likely be used. When you have finished this project and of course, you can see that in this project, there are places you are using the existing median and there are places you will construct new median, will the cost be the same?
It is not possible.when you have finished, you removed the vop, you removed contingency, you have not used,at be it is N40 or N70 billion and probably you have done 50 kilometers, then that is when you divide and have an average cost. Average cost of definitive and estimated cost is a probable element.
When I heard that somebody, my brother and friend Governor Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State said…-I don’t want to join issues with him. I think he is an Engineer, an electrician, they called it electrical electronics. This is road construction. Electrical electronics no reach there. I am his senior in governance and his senior in engineering practice and so anything he doesn’t understand, he should call me and ask and I will not join issue because I have respect for our Governors.
I have respect for him as my friend and brother but, he should withdraw the word that am dancing around. I never danced around and if he insists, he should come for debate, that is very important. There is no ambiguity in cost per kilometer but am teaching them that cost per kilometer could be divided into estimated cost, which has element of variance and average cost, which is definitive. That is what it is .
So also is when somebody that is dangling without knowledge going asking AI what is the difference between cost per kilometer and average cost.
I am happy that AI told him what I told him. Am happy that Nuc program on who is a professor also made me right. You can become a professor by the reason of your practice and I think God has made me one when it comes to practical. Field engineering program, that is what it is you can’t take it back.” he said
