Umahi: N18.6trn Needed to Address Road Sector in Four Years

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has revealed that the sum of N18.6 trillion is required to address the road sector in the next four years.

The Minister maintained the decision of the government to insist on the construction of concrete roads was because it less expensive and more durable.

He stressed that the request for the 2023 supplementary budget became necessary to restore some of the funds removed from the 2022 supplementary appropriation in order to enhance project completion and provide emergency repair works on failed sections roads.

Umahi made this known on Wednesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation to defend the N300 billion for the Ministry  from the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.

His words: “On the whole, to address our road sector for the four years, we would need about N18.6 trillion and so the National Assembly must have to wear its thinking cap on how we can address seriously our road sector.

“I also appeal to the NASS that the executive need to respect your motions on certain interventions. We must have a contingency fund. When you ask me to go and intervene on certain roads which have collapsed, and I have to liken the situation to a man on life support. The man needs immediate attention. Where there is an emergency the road is cut and the people are suffering, movement is stopped, it needs an emergency. So we appeal for contingency to respect your directives on fixing emergency situation.”

Umahi stressed that the sum of N300 billion proposed for the Ministry of Works was targeted especially to the highway sectors. 

This, he said, is to ensure free flow of traffic on the federal roads network to enhance movement especially as yuletide approaches as well as tackle the problem of insecurity.

Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who also appeared before the committee to defend N18 billion allocated to the Commission from the supplementary budget said it would be used for personnel emoluments and the conduct of the off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.

He said the sum of  N13.8 billion was for personnel emoluments, N1.4 billion to augment the conduct of elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo N1.6 billion for the conduct of 11 by-elections for the national and State Assemblies.