Minister of Works, David Umahi
Federal Government requires ₦3 trillion to complete road projects awarded under the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) tax credit scheme.
Minister of Works, David Umahi disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen.
Following NNPCL’s decision to halt funding from August 1, President Bola Tinubu directed the ministry to explore alternative sources of financing to ensure no project is abandoned.
Umahi said, “Our President is a man with a large heart. Despite the funding stoppage by NNPCL, Mr President, as Chairman of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), directed that alternative funding mechanisms be put in place to ensure completion of all projects.”
Umahi noted that the ministry has compiled a list of affected projects and will present them to the President for consideration under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) where applicable.
“We are going to prepare a memo to the President on that,” he said.
Umahi mentioned ongoing projects including the Benin-Warri, Benin-Asaba road to the first Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road, and projects in Bayelsa, Delta, North Central, and Northeast regions.
He added that emergency projects in Gombe, Bauchi, and the Kano to Maiduguri stretch are also ongoing.
Minister of State for Works, Malam Bello Goronyo, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to road infrastructure.
Goronyo said, “This is a president that has shown an uncommon commitment to fixing our roads that were neglected hitherto for more than 45 to 47 years ago.”
Permanent Secretary Olufunsho Adebiyi stated that claims of marginalization in road projects are not true, as costs depend on factors like terrain, water table, and material availability.
“So what you need to fix a one kilometre road in Bayelsa, may do up to 10 in Katsina why? Because of the terrain, the water table, nearness to the materials required and so many things required.”
