Umahi: FG to Review All Road Projects Needing Additional Funding

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said he will review all  projects that require additional funding, noting that the federal government needs to know why such projects need augmentation.

The minister spoke during the inspection tour of the reconstruction of Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu road section I in Abia State, according to a statement by the Director of Information, Press & Public Relations Unit of the ministry, Blessing Lere-Adams.

“I have directed that all the regional directors will work with my team of consultants to review all the projects that are having augmentation.

“It’s not a proof, but l want to answer many questions about these projects. For example, a project awarded years ago for say N2 billion is now N10 billion. l should be able to answer for that.

 “I need to know why projects are being reviewed, whether it will ever have augmentation. l want to unravel the augmentation even though the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) would have approved it. If I feel the augmentation is not necessary, I will bring down the cost,” he added.

Umahi said that the review would him to respond adequately to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, Nigerians and the press when the need arises.

On his advocacy for concrete technology, he explained that its deployment will be dependent on specific situations.