On October 7, 2025, a contentious exchange unfolded during an Arise TV interview featuring Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, and host Rufai Oseni.
The discussion centered on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a significant infrastructure initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu later commented on the event, noting that Umahi appeared to issue strong warnings to Oseni for probing the project’s details, labeling the journalist’s questions as inciting.
The interview saw Umahi addressing concerns about project costs, delays, and transparency, topics Oseni raised in his role as a media professional.
Umahi’s responses included a defense of the project’s financial structure and a challenge to Oseni’s inquiries, at one point stating that the journalist was “too small” to warrant a report to the president.
This led to a heated exchange, with both parties asserting their positions.Odinkalu, in a post on X, highlighted the incident, suggesting Umahi’s tone constituted a threat to Oseni for performing his journalistic duties.
Here Is What He Wrote On His Official X Handle
The exchange has sparked discussions about the balance between governmental accountability and media scrutiny in Nigeria, with the public and analysts awaiting further developments on the highway project.
As of October 8, 2025, the debate continues, reflecting broader conversations on infrastructure transparency and the role of the press. See, More, Here>>>
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