Nigerian journalist and publisher Segun Olawoye has raised concerns over an alleged threat to his life, warning that Minister of Works David Umahi should be held accountable if any harm comes to him.
Olawoye, the founder and publisher of ObjecTV Media, made the allegation during a press briefing, where he disclosed that he received a cryptic WhatsApp message from a phone number later identified as belonging to the minister.
According to the journalist, the dispute between him and the minister stems from a secret recording of a meeting connected to the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
He said the meeting took place in August 2025 after protesters stormed the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja to oppose the realignment of the Lagos section of the highway project.
Olawoye explained that he discreetly recorded the meeting due to concerns that protests could turn violent.
“Based on my experience as a journalist who had covered protests that degenerated into violence in the past… I immediately activated my discreet recording gadget,” he said.
He said the recording later became the source of tension between him and the minister.
The journalist claimed that on March 8, 2026, he received a WhatsApp message from a number that was not saved on his phone.
According to him, the sender later identified himself as the Minister of Works.
The message reportedly accused Olawoye of secretly recording their conversation and sharing it publicly.
Part of the message read: “You came to my office and secretly videoed our conversations and shared… You have no right to do that.”
The sender allegedly added that the journalist still had an opportunity to apologise “on my terms.”
Speaking further, Olawoye said he decided to make the issue public because he feared the alleged message could be interpreted as a threat.
He insisted that he had no personal disputes or financial problems that could put his life at risk.
“As of today, March 12, 2026, I am in good health. I have no suicidal thoughts,” he said.
“If anything happens to me… Engr. David Nweze Umahi should be held responsible.”
The controversy is reportedly linked to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The journalist said some communities and investors had protested the realignment of parts of the road, which allegedly affected properties, including the WinHomes Estate.
He said representatives of the affected parties were later invited to meet the minister to discuss the issue.
