Emmanuel OchayiThe Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, disclosed that a N18.6 trillion is required to overhaul the road sector over the next four years.
Addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Umahi stressed the government’s commitment to constructing concrete roads due to their cost-effectiveness and durability.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe stated this while defending the N300 billion allocation for the Ministry in the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.
Umahi argued, “To address our road sector for the next four years, we would need about N18.6 trillion, and so the National Assembly must put on its thinking cap on how we can seriously tackle our road sector.”
He further convassed the National Assembly to consider creating a contingency fund to promptly respond to emergency situations on the country’s deteriorating roads.
“Where there is an emergency, the road is cut, and the people are suffering, movement is stopped, it needs an emergency,” he stressed.
The Minister clarified that the N300 billion allocation for the Ministry of Works in the supplementary budget primarily targets the highway sectors, aiming to ensure smooth traffic flow on the federal road network, particularly as the yuletide season approaches, while also addressing security concerns.
Also, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appeared before the committee to defend the N18 billion allocated to the Commission from the supplementary budget.
This allocation is earmarked for personnel emoluments and to support off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States, as well as 11 by-elections for the national and State Assemblies.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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