Works Minister Dave Umahi has said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has a N6 trillion funding gap on its road projects across the country.
The minister, who said the current administration inherited 2,604 road projects, explained that the projects cover 18,000 kilometres and will cost N14 trillion.
Addressing reporters at the weekend at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Umahi said the Tinubu administration had paid N4 trillion out of the N14 trillion owed to contractors.
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“The ministry inherited a total of 2,604 projects worth N14 trillion for 18,000 kilometres of roads. That’s what we had. Between when we came on board and now, about N4 trillion has been paid. So, that is a balance of N10 trillion remaining.
“Now, in this N10 trillion, we have defined sources that could fund up to N4 trillion. So, we have a funding gap of about N6 ttrillion. That is what is there now.
“We had a number of programmes for road development under the previous administration. We inherited all the projects; we have not dropped any of them. But it’s curious to know that some of these projects have lasted 20 years, some 10 years. In fact, in most cases, they were never appropriated throughout every tenure.
“So, I went to seek Mr. President’s nod so that I will be able to terminate some of the projects that have stayed up to 10 years without any defined source of funding,” Umahi said.
The minister decried the current appropriation system for federal road projects, saying the piecemeal disbursement of funds to contractors was frustrating delivery.
Umahi said he appealed to the President to engage with the National Assembly to prioritise some projects.
“Just look at over 2,600 projects, 18,000 kilometers of roads, and N14 trillion. That is huge! And the worrisome part of this is that even the ones that are being funded properly, the roads hardly last up to five years,” he said.
The minister noted that the short lifespan of roads necessitated his recent proposal to the President to redesign and construct future roads with reinforced concrete.
“So, I briefed Mr. President on what we are doing by introducing reinforced concrete technology for our road pavements,” Umahi said.
The minister threatened to “fight” entities poised to frustrate his plan, stressing: “I know that there are a lot of fights from contractors. But I’m David; I’m known for fights. I will fight this because I’ve reported myself to Mr. President.”
Also, the minister said he had received the President’s blessings to adopt the concrete reinforced pavements for roads across the country.
He said: “Incidentally, Mr. President is also an infrastructure guru and he fully supports that we should use reinforced concrete for our road pavements.
“So, there is no other place you can report me to other than to God. So, Mr. President is supporting me that way. We will redesign our roads with reinforced concrete pavement.
“I’m aware that the contractors have been quarreling and arguing. So, I want to declare that I’m open to any kind of blackmail. But my eyes are on the ball. And my eyes are on how we can get Nigerians to have value for the money. That is the assignment President Bola Tinubu gave to me and I’m going to do that with the fear of God,” he said.
The minister also revealed that he had written the NNPC to release money for the East-West Road.
He said: “I know that’s what the Rivers State people mentioned when they came to see Mr. President. So, that road is going to be on concrete.”
Having toured the Southeast and parts of the Northwest and the Northcentral, Umahi said he would focus on the Southwest, particularly Lagos State, where works are ongoing on the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Liverpool Bridge, the Eko Bridge and Marine Bridge.
“I want to see things for myself and appraise the ongoing projects. I want to see who is doing a good job and who is doing a bad job. So, I briefed Mr. President about that,” he said.
(Nation)
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