***Seeks Support for Loans as Budgetary Provisions Fall Short
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has voiced his deep frustration over the state of Nigeria’s road infrastructure, highlighting inadequate yearly budgetary allocations as a major barrier to progress.
Speaking during the 2025 budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Works in Abuja on Friday, Umahi described the financial constraints as overwhelming. “I’ve succeeded in most of my life’s engagements, but I feel frustrated fixing Nigerian roads with these meagre allocations,” he lamented.
Umahi disclosed that President Bola Tinubu inherited 2,064 road projects valued at N13 trillion, but rising costs have pushed the estimated expenditure to N18 trillion. He noted that the N827 billion allocated for road infrastructure in the 2025 budget is grossly insufficient to address the challenges.
“Roads are critical to economic growth and poverty reduction. They create jobs and drive economic activities. However, fixing these roads cannot be achieved with yearly budget provisions alone,” he explained.
The minister urged Nigerians to support the government’s borrowing initiatives, assuring that the funds would directly impact citizens’ lives by boosting economic activities and reducing hunger.
Senators on the committee, led by Senator Mpigi Barinaga, praised Umahi for his efficient management of scarce resources and supported his call for alternative funding mechanisms. They acknowledged the scale of the work required and admitted that the proposed budget falls far short of what is needed to resolve Nigeria’s road infrastructure crisis.
The session concluded with a shared resolve to explore additional funding options to tackle the nation’s road challenges effectively.