Supplementary Budget; President Tinubu Approves N300B For Works Ministry
THE Minister of Works, Sen David Umahi yesterday said that President Bola Tinubu recently approved in the 2023 Supplementary budget a total amount of Three Hundred Billion Naira (₦300B) for the Ministry of Works which comprises of One Hundred Billion Naira (₦100B) for immediate palliative works in 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Sen Umahi also said that a total sum of Two Hundred Billion Naira (₦200B) was also approved for the continuation of most of the inherited ongoing projects and very few new but critical road projects across the country.
The Works Minister made the disclosure while reacting to a newspaper publication on the concerns of the public on the deplorable situations of some sections of the Federal roads throughout the Federation. as reported in many media platforms. He noted that President Tinubu since assumption of office has reeled out plans of commitment, consistence, and innovations towards the actualization of a sustainable road infrastructure development throughout the country.
Sen Umahi maintained that President Tinubu has also directed that works in those palliative projects must commence before 1st December 2023 adding that all sections of the roads being frequently complained of by the public in all regions of the North and South of the country has been isolated and directed for an immediate actions on them. He said that work has started on all such roads.
Some of the concerned roads include, the Makurdi-Nsukka 9th Mile Road, East West Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Benin bypass road, collapsed bridges of Enugu- Port Harcourt road, collapsed bridges of Shandam-Plateau State, Abuja-Kaduna- Zaria-Kano road and Gombe- Bauchi among others.
“President Tinubu, is aware of the state of our road infrastructure which he inherited on the 29th day of May 2023. Without prejudice to all the good efforts of the past administration on road infrastructure development which they tackled within the limit of their resources, the work to be done to change the ugly state of our roads is quite enormous”
Sen Umahi noted that President Tinubu is not complaining of the challenges he inherited in nearly all sectors of the economy, especially as it concerns road infrastructure adding that the president 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.
“The engagements of the Federal Ministry of Works will not be limited to these isolatedly reported cases but shall be holistic in our approach through these approved palliative measures and the interventions of FERMA in all the 36 States and FCT also.
He urged the public to assist the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA by supervising the contractors that will be engaged in the palliative works and indeed all ongoing projects of the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA.
“It is the right of every Nigerian to have value for their money deployed to the road infrastructure sector and therefore must show both interest and passion in all the ongoing projects by the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA. “Indeed all projects of the Federal, State and Local governments. All poorly constructed roads should be photographed and reported immediately these numbers 08030986263, 08037086137, or 08106423197; showing the name of the contractor, the location and type of contract and defects observed. He noted that the Federal Ministry of Works will document such reports, verify and take effective action to correct such infractions. “The Federal Ministry of Works shall also periodically recognize publicly those who made such reports that are genuine in a public engagement forum to be hosted quarterly by the Ministry and will sanction such erring contractors publicly too.
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