THE Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, says every kilometre of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project under construction costs N4 billion.
Umahi made this known while reacting to the claim made by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, that one kiolmetre of the road project gulps N8 billion.
The minister’s revelation, however, translated to the infrastructural project which is 700 kilometres will consume N2.8 trillion.
Umahi made this known while appearing as a guest on the Television Continental (TVC) News Hour programme.
The former Ebonyi governor also debunked claims that the project did not follow the due procurement process.
He added that the project was awarded on a counter-funding basis and not on a Public-Private Partnership as claimed.
Last week, Atiku criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to award the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without competitive bidding, daring the president to disclose the full cost of the Lagos-Calabar highway project.
He also wondered why the Tinubu administration released N1.06 trillion for the pilot phase, or six per cent of the project, which starts at Eko Atlantic and is expected to terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
