FG need N19tr to fix road projects — Umahi

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated categorically that the Federal Government needs over N19 trillion to enable it to construct 6,834 legacy and inherited road projects from the past seventeen to twenty years in the country.

Umahi made the revelation during an update briefing in Abuja, saying that out of the figure, 230 infrastructure road projects are among the supplementary ones the present administration wants to keep alive, while others are undergoing redesign processes.

He also explained that the increase in the figure is due to variations in prices, foreign exchange rates, and the removal of fuel subsidies, adding that they have to terminate 10 projects as they have been awarded over one and a half decades ago.

According to the works minister, the President should be commended for paying attention to special mega road projects, and there is a priority given to the ministry in terms of the supplementary budget for 2023/2024, while they inherited N1.6 trillion in debt to contractors.

On the issues of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Umahi maintained that their hands are clean and there is nothing to hide. According to him, some contractors are unhappy with the ministry to the point of wanting the removal of the minister.

He said, “We don’t want to join issues with any group of people as long as we are doing our jobs with an open mind. We are also involved in mega projects across the country, and we should expect these allegations. However, we will not fail. The N300 billion approved for us has been used for 300 bridges in Nigeria.”

Regarding the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriageway projects awarded to Julius Berger Plc, he reiterated that after the expiration of seven days, “we will have no option but to revoke it and award the project to another construction firm to complete it.”

He therefore hinted that the Ministry has a total of N600 billion in certified jobs for 2024 but regretted that a group has sued the federal government regarding the Lagos-Calabar Superhighway project, which is on hold for now.

“Climate change has dealt a heavy blow to our road infrastructure, and it is a challenge. We are looking at it seriously. For this reason, the federal government will declare a state of emergency on road projects in 2025,” Umahi remarked.