Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, has cautioned that the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the Winhomes development must not undermine the Tinubu administration’s relationship with diaspora investors, stressing that the federal government remains committed to protecting legitimate investments while ensuring transparency and accountability in infrastructure projects.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Umahi addressed concerns regarding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the controversial Winhomes project, responding to allegations made against him and the government and what he criticised and called damaging information, being circulated, arguing that misinformation about infrastructure costs and property disputes could create unwarranted fear among investors.
“We will not allow Winhomes damage the Tinubu administration’s relations with diaspora investors.”
He recounted the background of the Winhomes issue in detail, citing land transactions and alleged discrepancies in the CEO’s dealings. “The woman that is in charge of Winhomes development, from available facts before me, bought 12 hectares of land from the villagers, the natives, according to her, in 2022, and bought it, 12 hectares, for 50 million naira, not dollars, 50 million naira. And these investors, from what I have, because they have contacted me, two brothers bought five hectares. One person bought five hectares, that is 10 hectares already, and they are all based in Nigeria. And as of 2021, she has started selling, but the document I have says she bought this land in 2022, and only 12 hectares. And she was selling 21 million naira, not dollars, in 2021. And as of the time we started the construction, she started selling a plot for 70 million. And the plot is 675 meters wide. That is what her own plot was said to be. These are the questions. Who are these investors?”
He further questioned the legal and regulatory compliance of the Winhomes project. “Did you register the concern with Lagos State Government? Can you put up the document before the public? It should be sent to, you know, the attorney, so that he can look at it. Number four, who are the people that bought this land? Did they pay in dollars, or did they pay in naira? You know, she’ll be able to publish it.”
Regarding court cases arising from demolitions on the Winhomes site, Umahi clarified, “There were, and there are still cases in court. The first case was 39 people that their properties were demolished. And properly, you know, evaluated, and they were paid.
Now, the 39 of them, which we hope was one of it, the court dismissed the case. Then she now single-handedly on her own went to federal high court. And she did another case. That case is on. Probably, that’s what Rufai is quoting. And then, there’s also another case. She’s due to diaspora investors. These diaspora investors, there was no registered evidence, and so they cannot sue or be sued. Now, the question is, in the courts, the court did not put any injunction against the work. And in any case, we had passed the route, even before they went to court.”
Umahi also elaborated on the broader context of infrastructure projects under the administration. He defended the transparency and cost management of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, addressing claims about construction costs. “There is no two sections, or even within a road project, even where there are no challenges, that you can get a cost of one kilometre the same with the cost of the other kilometre. And I thought that I had sufficiently explained the cost of the coastal highway.”
On the subject of project funding and accountability, he said, “The Section 1, the 30 percent component of it is Naira denominated.
The 70 percent is a loan component. And he knows that this loan component was put out to the public, you know, by the developmental bank, the Deutsche Bank, put it out to the public, to financial institution. And he knows that this subscription, it was oversubscribed by $100 million. And they said that the cost of the coastal highway was very cheap, and they had to come to site to inquire about the standards, why the cost should be that low. And so, I have done all that I should do.”
Umahi stressed that the government is open to dialogue with investors. “The diaspora investors, who are resident in Nigeria, with me and you, they have come to me, they have sent me a letter, they want to come to the office to see me.
And I’m willing to see them. I want her to take on the woman, because when she’s using the issue of diaspora investors, it makes other people, genuine investors that want to invest, to be afraid. This government is very friendly with diaspora people. And so, we don’t allow her to use the name and damage the administration.”
On coastal highway’s progress, he noting that construction continues across multiple sections. “Now, the coastal highway is going on very well, very competitive. We are in Session 2 now. We’ve opened Session 3 and 3B, 65 kilometres in Kanapa and Kwaimu. This Session 4A and 4B going on at Ugun, and also at Undu,” he said.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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