The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has said that his ministry would spend One Hundred Billion Naira (N100bn) for immediate palliative works on roads in 36 States of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Umahi who announced the development in a statement issued on Monday, November 27, 2023 said this was in response to the outcry concerning some deplorable roads in the country.
He explained that, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was aware of the state of the country’s road infrastructure which he inherited on the 29th day of May 2023.
He added that, “Mr. President is not complaining of the challenges he inherited in nearly all sectors of the economy, especially as it concerns our road infrastructure, but he is quite courageous as he had promised to tackle the problems head-on which he has started to do not minding the debt burden inherited especially the funding gap of over Six Trillion Naira (₦6T) from most of the inherited on-going road projects.
“Mr. President has since reeled out plans of commitment, consistence, and innovations towards actualizing a sustainable road infrastructure development throughout the country.
“He has just approved a 2023 Supplementary budget of Three Hundred Billion Naira (₦300B) for the Ministry of Works comprising of One Hundred Billion Naira (₦100B) for immediate palliative works in 36 States and FCT and Two Hundred Billion Naira (₦200B) for continuation of most of the inherited ongoing projects and very few new but critical road projects”.
The Minister further disclosed that, Mr. President had directed that works in those palliative projects must commence before 1st December 2023, while observing all due process.
According to Umahi, the President had isolated sections being frequently complained of by the public in all regions of the North and South of the country and had equally isolated them and directed immediate actions on them.
He stated that, the engagements of the Federal Ministry of Works would not be limited to the isolatedly reported cases but shall be holistic in their approach through these approved palliative measures and the interventions of FERMA in all the 36 States and FCT also.
He therefore urged the public to assist the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA by supervising and reporting erring contractors that would be engaged in these palliative works and indeed all ongoing projects of the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA.
