N800BILLION INSUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS NIGERIA’S ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS – UMAHI 17-01-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has described the N800 billion allocated to his ministry in the 2025 budget proposal as inadequate to address the country’s road infrastructure needs.
Senator Umahi made this known on during the 2025 budget defense session organized by the House Committee on Works.
He appealed to the committee, to consider increasing the Ministry’s budgetary allocation for the 2025 fiscal year.
The Minister emphasized the need for adequate funding to enable the ministry to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones across the country.
He stated that the scope of road projects the Ministry aims to undertake cannot be achieved with the meagre budget allocation.
“When the nation is in recession, you have to borrow money and invest in infrastructure. That is how you emerge from a recession. Infrastructure is a catalyst for economic activities, and this hunger we talk about will become a thing of the past.
“Food sellers, sand suppliers, gravel workers, and others will benefit. Support Mr. President, and let’s borrow money to build infrastructure so Nigeria can be great again,” Umahi said.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to completing ongoing road projects.
The Chairman of the Committee, Akin Alabi, promised to summon the Minister of Finance and the Head of the Budget Office to explain the rationale behind the ministry’s low budget allocation.