The Minister of Works, David Umahi, and Arise News anchor, Rufai Oseni, were locked in a bitter exchange of words during a live interview.
Oseni accused Umahi of reporting him to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his comment about the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The minister expressed anger, stating that Oseni was “too small” for him to report to President Tinubu.
Umahi fired back, saying:
“You are too small for me to report you to the President. Who are you for me to report you? ”
Both men showed no sign of being friendly as they continued to attack one another during the interview.
The exchange continued when Umahi described himself as a professor, a title Oseni kicked against, asking how the minister attained his professorship.
“Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. I understand engine+eering very well. You don’t understand anything.”
Umahi clarified that he earned his professorship through experience in the field rather than through academia.
Oseni retorted:
“Minister, it’s alright. Keep dignifying yourself and let the world know who you truly are.”
FG secures $747m loan for Lagos-Calabar Highway
Recall that the federal government of Nigeria initiated the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in 2024 to link nine states and two regions.
Since the commencement of the road project, several milestones have been recorded, but the road has been stalled by a lack of funds.
The federal government has now secured the largest-ever loan to be gotten for a road project, to finance a tiny portion of the road.
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Umahi addresses viral video
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Umahi addressed a video trending on social media about a crack noticed on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Umahi provided details of the crack, explaining why it won’t hinder the ongoing projects, following concerns he received from Nigerians.
The minister revealed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stopped funding road projects and that President Tinubu directed alternative funding for these projects.