The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the financial requirements to successfully complete the ongoing 2,604 road projects inherited by the current administration have increased to N19tn, an increase from the previously estimated N13tn.
This substantial escalation in cost highlights the growing challenges associated with infrastructure development and the necessity for additional funding to address these urgent projects.
He said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday at the ministry headquarters to update Nigerians on road infrastructure development.
He explained that the cost increased due to the dwindling foreign exchange rate and the price of bitumen. He explained that despite these issues, the ministry had completed 85 per cent of 330 emergency projects awarded by the government in July 2024.
Umahi also berated the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Remi Oseni, over his comments that the minister had misplaced his priorities on the state of roads across the country.
He said, “The issue of fewer priorities by the House of Rep members was the variation of price, and that was a very terrible programme that was eroding the little resources we put in the budget to do projects.”
