Alao fires Makinde for criticizing Umahi on road project costing

By Seyifunmi Odunuga

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao, popularly known as Allow Alao, has taken a swipe at Governor Seyi Makinde over his recent criticism of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi.

The APC chieftain was reacting to the remarks by the Governor in which he said Umahi was ‘dancing around the cost’ on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Alao in a strongly worded statement released in Ibadan on Monday, described Makinde’s remarks as “a classic case of hypocrisy,” insisting that the governor must first account for his own inflated road contracts before attacking anyone at the federal level.
According to him, road costs by the administration of Governor Makinde defy logic, accusing it of turning road construction into a “cash-draining adventure” that has produced some of the highest cost-per-kilometer projects in Nigeria’s history.

“How can a governor who spends between ₦285 million and ₦7 billion per kilometer on state roads accuse others of waste?” Alao questioned. “It is the height of double-standards and moral bankruptcy.”

He went on to list several officially reported projects under Makinde’s watch to include: Oyo–Iseyin Road: ₦10 billion for 35 km — ₦285 million/km. Iseyin– Ogbomoso Road: ₦43 billion for 76 km — ₦566 million/km.

• Okaka Junction–Otu–Igbojaiye–KAP Film Village Road: ₦26.48 billion for 30 km — ₦883 million/km. Ajia Junction Dualisation: ₦17.18 billion for 6.2 km — ₦2.77 billion/km.

• Circular Road Expansion: ₦109.23 billion for 15.5 km — ₦7.05 billion/km.
• Moniya -Iseyin road reconstruction /rehabilitation – ₦9.9B – (₦152.3 million/km). 48km Ido -Eruwa road reconstruction /rehabilitation- after 2years, no visible work.

“These are not rumours; these are the governor’s own public figures. No civilized state should pay such outrageous sums without a clear Bill of Quantities or cost justification. Governor Makinde should publish the contracts or keep quiet”, he said.
Apart from road projects, the APC Chieftain also delves into other infrastructural projects constructed at highly inflated costs.

He specifically reminded the governor that Oyo State residents have not forgotten the N5.5 billion reportedly spent on remodeling of Lekan Salami Stadium, which flooded on its commissioning day and has since fallen into a deteriorating state.

He further added, “Even today, the people of the state continue to seek answers regarding the N63.4 billion earmarked by the governor for the renovation of the Government House, out of which N131.75 million was approved solely for hiring professional gardeners to maintain its grounds.”

The APC chieftain challenged Governor Makinde to publish every contract detail—including BoQs, contractor names, and payment schedules—for the sake of transparency.
“Oyo people deserve to know where their money is going. Until the governor opens his books, he has no moral ground to lecture the Federal Government on transparency or efficiency.

“As an engineer, I think the governor has an explanation to make on all the roads and other infrastructural projects his administration has constructed since 2019 and most especially when the government has claimed that it completed 14 road projects totaling 224.32 kilometers between May 2023 and May 2025”, he said.

Alao further called on the anti-graft agencies and independent auditors to investigate the state’s road projects to determine whether public funds are being properly used.

“Leadership is by example. Leadership is not about grandstanding or media drama. Governor Makinde should clean up his own administration before pointing fingers at others. The people of Oyo State are watching, and history will not be kind to those who squander public trust”, Alao concluded.