Spotlights
Tinubu demands 46 ministers fresh scorecards as lobby begins
Ahead of the planned cabinet shake-up by President Bola Tinubu, several ministers and their political godfathers have intensified lobbying to retain their positions.
The Presidency on Wednesday stated that President Tinubu would soon rejig his cabinet, which confirmed Sunday PUNCH’s September 1 report that a cabinet shakeup was imminent.
This happened as presidential aides told The PUNCH that some ministers had started frantic lobbying to be in the President’s good books.
“Yes, that is a typical thing. Some of the ministers will be calling their godfathers to influence the President. It is a normal thing. But the President will still do what is on his mind for the country,” one of the aides said.
Our correspondents learnt that some ministers, who are afraid of being dropped from the federal cabinet and their godfathers, have intensified lobbying, seeking the intervention of the President’s allies and associates, including the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, for a soft-landing.
Another top official said the CoS had expressed concern over the intense lobbying and pressure on Tinubu by those seeking assurances on the fate of their protégés in the Federal Executive Council.
The source stated, “Since reports filtered out that the President would soon reshuffle his cabinet, he has been under immense pressure from political godfathers and ministers who are afraid that they may be dropped from the cabinet.
“Due to the intense pressure, the CoS had to advise the President to take some days off in the United Kingdom after concluding the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in China two weeks ago.
“Remember that for some days, Nigerians did not know about Tinubu’s whereabouts. After pictures of his meeting with King Charles surfaced online, people started speculating that he went to London for medical checks. The fact is that he was advised to spend a few days to allow the pressure and lobbying to subside.
“Anyway, it is not unusual for politicians to lobby on behalf of their wards but Nigerians are not satisfied with the performance of many of the ministers and the President would have no choice but to let them go. If you are not performing, you have to go, regardless of who your godfather is,” he added.
Sources disclosed that the President may announce the shake-up by October 1, but The PUNCH could not independently confirm the date.
However, addressing State House correspondents on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital/New Media, O’Tega Ogra, explained that the cabinet shake-up would be based on the empirical evidence from performance reports the President had received in the past months.
Onanuga said Tinubu had stated his intent to rejig his cabinet, confirming The PUNCH report of an impending cabinet rejig.
However, he added that there was no timeline for the impending reshuffle, but the President, he noted, had “expressed his desire” to do it.
He said, “Let me tell you, I don’t have any timeline. The President has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet, and he will do it.
“I don’t know whether he’s going to do it before October 1, but he will surely do it. So, that’s what I will say. He has not given us any timeline when he wants to do it, but he will do it. He has expressed his plan that he wants to do it.”
Speaking on the performance of the present administration, Onanuga said, “The President has given an order to all his ministers at the last Federal Executive Council meeting to go out there and speak about the activities of his administration.
“Some of them have been media shy, television shy, radio shy, and he wants them to overcome all that and go out there and speak about what they have been doing because the feeling out there is that government is not doing enough and the government has been doing a lot. And it is up to them to go out there and blow their own trumpet. They should go out there and talk about what their ministries have been doing.”
Ogra said the decision would not be arbitrary but would be based on the performance reports presented by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, who heads the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.
“The President’s decision to reshuffle his cabinet is also based on empirical evidence. You know, he had said when he was speaking at the retreat for the ministers that they were going to have periodic reviews and the decisions that are extracted from these reviews will be used to make that final decision.
“I know he has gotten a couple of reports, and as Mr Onanuga said, when he is ready to do that, he will.”
Tinubu has been facing increasing pressure from within and outside his party, the All Progressives Congress, to sack underperforming ministers in his cabinet.
There are strong indications that the President may scrap the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as part of the cabinet rejig.
Another Presidency source told The PUNCH that the exercise would also see some portfolios split and others merged into a single entity, while some ministers would be relieved of their duties.
Although the President warned against underperformance about 10 months ago, the cabinet remained largely intact, save for the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Last November, after a three-day retreat for cabinet members and presidential aides, Tinubu announced that a Central Delivery Coordination Unit headed by Bala-Usman would measure the performance of ministers and other top government officials.
Their performance would determine who would leave or remain, Tinubu stated.
Early in his administration, after putting in place a cabinet, Tinubu set up a Result and Delivery Unit headed by Bala-Usman to measure the performance of each minister.
There are indications she has done it, and may continue to tweak the report until a reshuffle is done.
At the opening of a three-day cabinet retreat for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries and top government functionaries on November 1, 2023, the President said the ministers in his cabinet would only retain their offices based on performance, which would be reviewed quarterly.
In commemoration of his first anniversary in office, President Tinubu directed his ministers to present their performance reports to Nigerians.
“If you are performing, nothing to fear,” the President stated. “If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk.” On January 24, the agency in charge of the assessment, the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, trained at least 140 officials to track and assess the performance of federal ministries, departments and agencies ahead of the assessment.
Speaking on Arise TV’s News Night in April, Bala-Usman affirmed that the unit had received performance reports from at least 20 of the 35 ministries.
She explained that the assessment reports would be a product of a joint effort of the ministers, citizens and industry experts.
Bala-Usman said, “Our submission is for the first quarter. So, the first quarter has just ended, and we have initiated the assessment process. The ministers have all been asked to submit their performance based on the deliverables.”
She asserted ministers would be assessed “based on what is out there in the public space. They would write to say, ‘Based on every deliverable you have given me, this is what I’ve done within the first quarter of the year.’”
Meanwhile, Nigerians have expressed increasing frustration and anger over what they perceive as poor performance by some government ministers.
The discontent stems from various issues, including economic challenges, corruption, unemployment, insecurity, and lack of infrastructural development.
Despite high hopes when the ministers were appointed, many Nigerians feel that the promises made during campaigns have not been fulfilled.
Nigerians also feel that the government has not delivered on promises to improve roads, electricity, healthcare, and education.
Other areas of concern include rising inflation, unemployment, and a stagnant economy which have left many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.
Also, the continued threat from insurgent groups, bandits, and kidnappers has worsened, with many blaming the defence ministers for not doing enough to strengthen security forces or bring lasting solutions to the crisis.
The general hardships and frustration resulted in the #Endbadgovernance protests which rocked the country in August.
The group has also announced another round of protests in October.
Some of the ministers like Amb. Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs) recorded considerable success after over a year in office.
Tuggar was instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s bilateral relations with key strategic partners, including countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Under his stewardship, Nigeria continued to play a significant role within the African Union, especially regarding peace and security efforts in conflict-affected regions such as the Sahel, West Africa, and the Horn of Africa. He also appointed 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent the country in 14 countries on-appointment of new ambassadors 13 months after the former envoys were recalled has been questioned.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has been lauded for working on initiatives to combat fake news and promote factual reporting, as well as campaigns aimed at fostering national unity and reorienting the citizenry towards positive values. He’s launched the Audience Measurement System and the National Value Charter but has been accused of not communicating government policies and programmes effectively.
Atiku Bagudu (Minister of Budget and National Planning) negotiated the 2023 Supplementary Budget and the 2024 fiscal estimates and their amendment with the National Assembly. He also implemented over 500 selected FG projects implemented in 2023 Capital Appropriation were monitored to ensure accountability and value for money and reimbursed N438.3bn to the FCT and 34 states. So far, 67,038 jobs have been created in the first phase of the 2023 implementation but his policies increased economic hardship.
Reduction of revenue-to-debt service ratio from 97% in 2023 to 68% in 2024 has been one of Wale Edun’s achievements as Minister of Finance. He also paid back N7.3tn Ways and Means obligations and initiated strategic input programme to increase food supply and a pivot to CNG fuel for mass transit vehicles.
However, economic hardship persist as a result of government policies while he’s been criticised for slow rollout of social programmes despite increasing poverty.
Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake promoted the diversification of the economy through mining, commissioned the geological and mineral resource maps to guide investors on the locations of key minerals and created a long-term master plan to guide the solid minerals sector but he’s been unable to attract sufficient investors while stakeholders complain of his opaque policies.
Doris Uzoka-Anite (Minister of Trade) paid N50,000 grant to small business owners and engaged with international partners/investors to promote Nigeria’s industrial and trade opportunities. She also streamlined processes related to trade facilitation, reducing delays in customs and port operations. However, she’s yet to begin payment of loans to manufacturers and MSMEs.
Minister of Digital Econmy Bosun Tijani has been instrumental in implementing Nigeria’s Start-up Act, ongoing training and placement of three million technical talents as well as working on initiatives to increase access to venture capital and funding for Nigerian tech startups
But under the minister’s watch, there’s been no progress on plans to increase internet access nationwide. He is also yet to set up OneGov, a one-stop shop for all government services, and investing in innovation hubs nationwide
Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo initiated moves for return of Emirates Airlines to Nigeria and has supported indigenous airlines and others in the aviation sector to reduce capital flight. He facilitated the commencement of Air Peace operations to the UK and has began moves to build a second runway at the Abuja Airport. He also facilitated the payment of 45 months of minimum wage arrears owed NiMet workers
Power minister Adebayo Adelabu successfully launched the long awaited Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and installed systems used for controlling, monitoring, and analysing industrial devices and processes.
Health minister Prof Muhammad Pate secured a $3bn pledge from foreign partners while over 10 million children received tetanus and diphtheria vaccines under his watch.
He also retrained 120,000 health workers,increased school admission quota by 100 per cent in health institutions and facilitated signing of Executive Order on healthcare products.
FCT minister Nyesom Wike inaugurated commercial operations of Abuja metro rail system, resurfaced 135 roads and built several bridges in the city centre. He approved promotion of over 8000 FCTA staff, and 1000 FCDA staff. He completed the construction of the Vice President’s official residence.
The Supreme Court judgment on LG financial autonomy happened under Justice minister Lateef Fagbemi. He also passed into law the 300 per cent judicial salary increment bill. He played key roles in the conviction of 125 Boko Haram terrorists and financiers in mass trial and the £2.1m corruption proceeds received from bailiwick of Jersey.
Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), unlocked $3bn investment in the gas sector by resolving issues relating to the execution of the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement for the Brass Methanol Project. He midwifed the reconstruction of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund council and guidelines and unveiled many gas projects since his appointment.
Source: The Punch
!['I'm optimistic' - Tinubu sends 2025 New Year message to enduring Nigerians [FULL TEXT]](https://thepapers.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bola-Ahmed-Tinubu-e1653653706419-400x240.jpg)
!['I'm optimistic' - Tinubu sends 2025 New Year message to enduring Nigerians [FULL TEXT]](https://thepapers.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bola-Ahmed-Tinubu-e1653653706419.jpg)
Spotlights
VIDEO: Popular Prophet Mentions 3 Tinubu’s Ministers Working With Coalition Ahead 2027 Polls
Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a compelling prophetic warning regarding three current ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He confidently asserts that these ministers are poised to collaborate with the ADC coalition, a move he believes will substantially undermine the president’s political future.
In a recent prophetic broadcast on Facebook, Primate Ayodele stated that this betrayal within Tinubu’s cabinet would take many by surprise.
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According to him, the ministers are actively aligning themselves with an emerging opposition coalition, and their eventual actions will shake the foundation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Three of Tinubu’s ministers will be playing along with the coalition, and that will hit Tinubu,” Ayodele declared. He warned that the alignment was not mere speculation but a spiritual certainty, urging the presidency to tighten its internal political controls and assess the loyalty of those in top government positions.
Ayodele criticized the rising insecurity and political manipulation within the country, urging Nigerians to pray and political leaders to refocus on good governance, not selfish ambitions. He stressed that internal betrayal from trusted allies is often more dangerous than external attacks.
2027 Election: Goodluck Jonathan Told What To Do Ahead Of Poll As Plots To Unseat Tinubu Deepens
Spotlights
Alleged Money Laundering: How I Paid $3 Million Into Aisha Achimugu’s Company’s Account – Witness
Trinity Usman, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) witness, on Friday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, that he received and transferred three million dollars into Aisha Achimugu’s company account.
Mr Usman, the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), told Justice Emeka Nwite while being led in evidence by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The PW-2, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, spoke in the ongoing trial of Halima Buba, managing director of SunTrust Bank, and her co-defendant, Innocent Mbagwu, the executive director/chief compliance officer of the bank.
The duo are being prosecuted on money laundering offences to the tune of $12 million.
In a six-count charge, they were alleged to have aided high-value cash transactions without routing them through a financial institution.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(a), 2(1), and 9(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
The defendants were, on June 13, arraigned by the anti-graft agency.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts, and admitted to a N100 million bail with one surety, each in like sum.
At the resumed trial, the witness said he was in court to tell what he knew about the transactions he did with Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd, owned by Mrs Achimugu.
Mr Usman, who said he was a businessman and general contractor, said he was also into agro allied and oil business.
He said he carried out the businesses with companies or registered names.
He said his companies include Triple A and Tee Service Venture, T.M. Agro Allied Farm, Triple A and D Oil and Gas Ltd, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, among others.
“Sometimes in April 2025, one Suleiman Ciroma contacted me that he had a transaction that he needed 3 million US dollars to (be transferred to) Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd.
“In that particular time, I have the money being in my Triple A and Tee Oil and Gas Nig Ltd account.
“After we agreed with him, Suleiman Ciroma gave me the dollar payment in cash.
“I paid him the dollars into Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd account,” he said.
He said the payment was made in April 2025
“Can you remember the exact date you made the payment?” Iheanacho asked.
“I made the transfer in four tranches but I cannot remember the exact day,” the witness responded.
However, when the lawyer asked the witness if he knew Messrs Buba and Mbagwu, he said he did not know them.
“Take a look at the dock and tell the court if you know the defendants,” Mr Iheanacho asked and the witness simply said, “No.”
Mr Usman told the court that he did the transactions with Triple A and Tee Oil Nig Ltd.
“It was from there I transferred the dollars into Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd,” he said.
But when Mr Iheanacho asked the PW-2 if his BDC company, Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, featured in the transaction, counsel for the 1st defendant (Buba), Johnson Usman, SAN, raised an objection.
The senior lawyer argued that Iheanacho’s question was a ploy to give the witness tips on what to say and the judge directed him to rephrase the question.
The witness said that the licence of Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd, as at the time of the transactions, had been suspended.
He said the cash transactions from Mt Ciroma were made through his staff.
He mentioned the names of the staff as Abdulkadir Mohammed and Kabir Haruna.
The BDC operator also said that he equally did a naira to dollar transaction with Ciroma.
“The naira was transferred into a Triple A and Tee Service Venture Ltd Bank account.
“The naira also was converted into dollars and I sent the equivalent into an Oceangate account,” he said.
However, during cross-examination by Mr Buba’s counsel, Mr Usman SAN, the witness was asked to confirm to court that Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd had been in operations till date and he responded in affirmative.
“After they suspended our licence, we proposed Triple A and Tee BDC Ltd to CBN last year and we have an approval in principle with CBN,” the witness responded.
“Ciroma Suleiman contacted you in these transactions because he knows you as BDC operator?” the lawyer asked and the PW-2 responded in affirmative.
When Mr Usman asked the witness that it was on the basis of that knowledge that the PW-2 sent his staff to collect the dollars from Mr Ciroma, Mr Iheanacho too objected to the question.
The witness admitted that he did not tell the defendants before the transactions that his BDC license was suspended at any time.
He said his oil company account was used for the transactions because it was the account he had available dollars.
‘The choice of using your oil and gas company account to transfer the dollars to Oceangate was your own decision,” the lawyer asked and the witness responded in affirmative.
Counsel to the 2nd defendant (Mbagwu), M.S. Ibrahim, SAN, asked the witness if he made any profit from the transactions and he responded in affirmative.
“Did you tell the defendants whom you have never seeing or know before that you were going to make inflow payment from your oil and gas company’s account?” Ibrahim asked and the PW-2 said, “No.”
After the cross-examination, the witness was discharged and Ms Nwite adjourned the matter until Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 for continuation of trial.
Earlier on Thursday during the cross-examination of Suleiman Ciroma, the owner of Funnacle BDC Ltd and the PW-I by Mr Usman, SAN, the witness said the reason Mrs Achimugu requested for the transfer of the money was that if she had deposited the money in cash in the bank, she would not be able to transfer same.
Mr Ciroma said Trimizi Usman and Hassan Dantani, upon their representatives collecting the money, in turn, transferred the dollars equivalent “less their charges into a designated account provided by Aisha Achimugu.”
He agreed with Mr Usman’s question that in forex transaction, a transfer can only be made from an account where the money came by way of inflow and not by cash deposit.
When the lawyer asked Mr Ciroma that Mrs Achimugu needed the dollar transfer to purchase her two oil blocks, the PW-1 responded in affirmative.
The witness told the court that he is a member of BDC Traders Association Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja.
He said that was why when he made his statements to EFCC on April 14, April 11 and May 7, the executive members of the association were with him at the time.
Mr Ciroma, who agreed that he was duly cautioned before writing the extra-judicial statements, admitted that there was no part he informed the defendants, particularly Mr Buba, that his BDC licence had expired.
Also while being cross-examined by Mr Ibrahim, who appeared for the 2nd defendant, Mr Ciroma agreed that he had never seen Mr Mbagwu physically before.
He also admitted that he had never produced any text or Whatsapp message between him and Mbagwu before the court before.
gazettengr.com
President Donald Trump is once again referencing his wish to be “heaven-bound”
Speaking to press aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Oct. 12, the president, 79, answered a question about his August statements regarding his attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine — during which he said, “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty — I want to try to get to heaven if possible.”
“I’m being a little cute,” Trump told reporters on Sunday about his previous comments, before quipping, “I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven.”
“I really don’t. I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One,” he continued. “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a lot of people.”
Trump went on to tell the press that “had the election of 2020 not been rigged,” he could have prevented Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine.
“We had an incompetent administration. We had an incompetent president. And because of a crooked election, millions of people are dead,” Trump said, referring to former President Joe Biden. “And by the way, the Israeli thing was much harder to get settled because of the past administration.”
During a phone interview with Fox & Friends on Aug. 19, the president gave a new explanation for taking action to end the war in Ukraine — including positioning himself as a mediator between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty — I want to try to get to heaven if possible,” Trump said at the time.
“I’m hearing that I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole,” he added, to laughter from the Fox News hosts. “But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”
Last month, Trump referenced his goal to “get into heaven” again when his campaign sent out emails asking for donations that read, “I want to try and get to Heaven.”
The recent emails — which reportedly began on Aug. 23 — requested supporters to donate $15 during a “24-HOUR TRUMP FUNDRAISING BLITZ” to the president, the Independent, Snopes and Newsweek reported. The new emails’ subject line includes, “I want to try and get to Heaven,” per the outlets.
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“Last year, I came millimeters from death when that bullet pierced through my skin. My triumphant return to the White House was never supposed to happen!” the email says in reference to the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pa.
“But I believe that God saved me for one reason: TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” the message says, according to the Independent. “I certainly wasn’t supposed to survive an assassin’s bullet, but by the grace of the almighty God, I did. SO NOW, I have no other choice but to answer the Call to Duty, but I can’t do it alone.”
During a briefing that same day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that she didn’t believe Trump was joking.
“I think the president was serious,” she said. “I think the president wants to get to heaven — as I hope we all do in this room as well.”
Stock photo of airplanes taking off and landing at Laguardia airport in New York
Trump and Putin failed to reach a peace deal or agree to a ceasefire during their recent summit in Alaska on Aug. 15, despite Trump having vaguely threatened “very severe consequences” if Russia didn’t comply.
Days after his meeting with Putin, Trump changed his tune, telling Zelenskyy and other European leaders that he didn’t think a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was necessary or even realistic while larger peace negotiations are underway.
The president admitted to the difficulty of negotiating with Putin during his remarks at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13.
“I’ve had a lot of good conversations with [Putin]. Then I go home and I see that a rocket hit a nursing home or a rocket hit an apartment building and people are laying dead in the streets,” Trump said.
People
Peruvian lawmakers have taken decisive action by voting to remove President Dina Boluarte from office following widespread public dissatisfaction with the country’s escalating crime rates and ongoing political scandals.
In a late-night session held in Lima, Congress reached a majority decision to impeach the president, citing “permanent moral incapacity” as the basis for their decision. Out of the 130 members of Congress, 118 voted in favor of the motion, effectively determining Boluarte’s political fate after she declined to appear before lawmakers to present her defense.
Congress leader José Jerí immediately announced, “The president’s impeachment has been approved,” before taking the oath as interim president. He will oversee the country until new elections scheduled for April 2026.
Boluarte’s presidency, which began in December 2022, has been dogged by protests, corruption allegations, and surging gang violence. Her failure to reduce crime including rising cases of extortion and murder linked to organised groups, sparked widespread frustration among Peruvians.
She had already survived several impeachment attempts before Friday’s vote. This latest one followed weeks of demonstrations against a controversial pension reform law and outrage over reports that she accepted luxury watches and jewellery, a scandal widely known as “Rolexgate.”
Boluarte also drew criticism earlier this year for awarding herself a significant pay rise, even as unemployment and inflation worsened across the country.
As of the time of this press report, former President Boluarte remained silent on her removal, while security forces increased patrols around government buildings amid fears of renewed protests.
Spotlights
‘Stop Dancing Around’: Makinde Tutors Minister Umahi How To Calculates Cost of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has criticised the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, accusing him of evading questions about the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project approved by President Bola Tinubu, Politics Nigeria.
Makinde, who spoke on Friday, was reacting to Umahi’s heated exchange with Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni earlier in the week, during which the minister declined to provide a cost breakdown of the project on a per-kilometre basis.
Oseni had asked Umahi to explain the project’s cost per kilometre, a question the minister dismissed as “elementary,” insisting that the prices vary along different sections of the road and that the journalist lacked the technical knowledge to understand the process.
Umahi said, “Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field… The prices are different. The next kilometre is different from the next kilometre.”
Governor Makinde, however, defended the journalist, saying Umahi’s evasiveness was unnecessary.
“They asked a minister how much the coastal road is, and then you’re dancing around, saying the next kilometre is different from the next. Then what is the average cost?” Makinde said.
He compared the coastal project to road works executed under his administration, providing clear figures.
“When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road, it was about ₦9.99 billion for roughly 35 kilometres, an average of ₦238 million per kilometre.
“For the Iseyin to Ogbomoso road, 76 kilometres cost ₦43 billion, about ₦500 million per kilometre. And that included two bridges,” the governor explained.
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