Abuja – November 28, 2023 – Viewpoint Housing News.
The Federal Ministry of Works has stated that it received reports from various media outlets, particularly social media, r about the deplorable state of some Federal road segments across the Federation. The majority of the road segments that are regularly covered, though by no means comprehensive, are the Makurdi-Nsukka 9th Mile Road, East West Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Motorway, Benin Bypass Road, collapsed bridges in Enugu and Port Harcourt, collapsed bridges in Shandam and Plateau State, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, Gombe- Bauchi, etc.
As a result, since taking office on May 29, 2023, His Excellency, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has been informed on the state of our road system. Even though the previous administration did a great job of improving the road infrastructure while staying within budgetary restrictions, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to improve the unattractive condition of our roads.
therefore , the president has unveiled plans that are dedicated, consistent, and innovative in order to bring about the creation of a sustainable road infrastructure across the nation. He has approved a three hundred billion naira (₦300 billion) 2023 Supplementary budget for the Ministry of Works. Of that amount, one hundred billion naira (₦100 billion) will be used for immediate palliative works in 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, while two hundred billion naira (₦200 billion) will be used to continue most of the ongoing projects that have been inherited and very few new but important road projects. The President has ordered that all due process be followed and that development on those palliative projects begin before December 1, 2023.
The ministry also stated that, its involvement will not be restricted to these few incidents that have been documented; but they will take a comprehensive approach using FERMA’s interventions in all 36 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, along with approved palliative measures.
The ministry emphasized that, Every Nigerian has the right to get value for their money when it comes to the road infrastructure sector, thus all current initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Works, FERMA, and the State, Local, and Federal governments must be undertaken with enthusiasm and interest. Every poorly built road should be captured on camera, and the appropriate authorities should be notified right away: “such negligent contractors will also be publicly sanctioned by the Federal Ministry of Works” They added.
