Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the federal government has released 50 percent of the N110 billion palliative funds for road projects.
He therefore assured Nigerians that the Abuja-Kaduna Highway would be completed this year.
The minister disclosed this during a meeting with directors of the ministry he called for the review of project costs.
Umahi also called for the technical review of the Abuja-Kaduna Road.
He said, “I am pleased to announce that 50 percent of the palliative works for the year 2023 have been released to the ministry. The pressure is already on me and that‘s why I had to resume early.”
The minister also directed a review of agreements to include minimum equipment and personnel on site for any road project.
He said with proper pricing, available resources will be able to deliver good roads to Nigerians.
Umahi said, There is a need to review our project costs. I am a bit indifferent to our project costs because when we give the right costing to a project, look at the struggles and the debt Nigeria is into. If we give the right pricing to a project then the major resources, we have will be able to go a long way.
“We have to review things that are so disadvantageous to our road construction, we have to look at it. People come and get contracts and say there is Boko Haram or unknown gunmen there and then keep the money.
“There are terrible delays on site and we have to stop that,” the minister said.
He identified bad materials, poor construction methods and supervision as major challenges to road projects.
The minister said some contractors do not mean well for the country as they always look for ways to collect money without delivering projects hence the need for the ministry to ensure strict supervision.
He said the federal government had released N150 billion from the 2023 appropriation budget which is expected to close in March and „that‘s enough to utilise the budget but if we can‘t claim this money due to bureaucracy and people are not doing what they are supposed to do, then which audacity do we have to say Ministry of Works is not funded?“ he said.
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