The Minister of Works Engr Dave Umahi has affirmed that the former president Olusegun Obasanjo taught him the rudiments of corruption as his father and mentor.
Engr. Umahi made the declaration while speaking against the backdrop of claims from former president that the ongoing Lagos Calabar coastal highway project is a wasteful and corrupt project while referencing the Siemens power project, Nitel and privatization deals that happened under the fmr president watch from 1999-2007.
The Minister for Works dismissed the claims of the former president where he cited that the Lagos-Calabar projects was wasteful and corrupt.
Umahi stated that the coastal road project when completed would drive tourist attractions, improve commerce centres, drive industrialization and retain jobs.
The minister of Works challenged the former president while citing that the Siemen power project, privatization deals and the sales of national assets and consortiums that happened under the former president watch as being wasteful and corrupt to the entire organs of the country at large.
He alluded that the fmr president had bandied figures where he cited that the Lagos-Calabar project would cost over 11 billion dollars to complete even as he stressed that the figures the president weaved together were not attuned with the economic realities on ground.
Umahi buttressed that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar projects is one of the biggest road infrastructure of concrete pavement instead of asphalt roads that was prone to frequent destruction and potholes.
He declared that the Former president should channel his efforts towards writing biographies and memoirs rather than publishing books to dismiss bold infrastructure that he couldn’t actualize when he was made president for 8years
Responding to the Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claims in his new book where he described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt, Umahi declared that the coastal road project would create evacuation corridors for deep sea ports, Dangote Refinery and connect all existing roads together.
Earlier, The former President had disclosed in Chapter Six of his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ where he painted the portrait and characters of chief executives at both the federal and state levels.
Speaking at the 700 km Lagos coastal road yesterday in Lagos Umahi said it was normal for people to criticise the project, but assured that the project would bring prosperity to the citizens.
He said, “The project is not wasteful and corrupt. I have read on social media where people were saying that why is the government or the contractor not explaining, but as the Minister of Work, I am qualified to explain the project.
“It is natural and normal for people to criticise, but I’ve ran the benefits of the project, the cost analysis of the project, the job is already done about 70% and the project will bring a lot of prosperity to Nigerians while stating that all those criticising the road should not follow the road.
“I want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because his peers are jealous, angry but that means he is doing very well what nobody has been able to do. The project is transparent, it is great in returns of investment, so I want to urge everyone to ignore such statement.”
Umahi also stated that the first section of the project would be completed by next year.
He emphasized the crucial role of infrastructure in driving economic growth and development while noting that the Lagos-Calabar coastal road will drive economic growth, spur industrialization and improve returns on investment.
He commended the president on the increase in federal presence in the state through many infrastructural projects, including the ongoing dualisation project and rehabilitation of Sagamu and Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The minister assured that his government would provide an enabling environment for the successful execution of these projects.
“We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people. In this regard, I pledge Government’s unflinching support and commitment towards actualising their completion,” he stated.
