Works Minister, Dave Umahi, has said the Federal Government will need N18.6 trillion to address issues affecting the road sector in the next four years.
Umahi spoke when he appeared before House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation to defend the N300 billion for the ministry from the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.
The minister called for contingency funds to enable the ministry deal with emergency situations on the nation’s roads.
He insisted on the use of concrete roads, saying it is less expensive and more durable.
“On the whole, to address our road sector for four years, we would need about N18.6 trillion, so the National Assembly must wear its thinking cap on how we can address our road sector.
“I appeal to the National Assembly that the Executive should respect your motions on certain interventions. We must have a contingency fund. When you ask me to go and intervene on certain roads which have collapsed, I have to liken the situation to a man on life support. The man needs immediate attention.
“Where there is an emergency, the road is cut and the people are suffering; movement is stopped. It needs an emergency. So, we appeal for contingency to respect your directives on fixing emergency situations,” Umahi said.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who got N100 billion, said N3.4 billion was earmarked for security equipment.
He also said the money would be needed for completion of Abuja rail project, among other infrastructure.
“Of course, there are infrastructure needs which have been abandoned before I came on board. These infrastructure need to be completed now that we have dry season coming. When I came on board, I had to make some of these contractors, like Julius Berger, to go back to work.
“I believe before we enter the rainy season next year, these infrastructure and roads would have been completed.
“Again, talking about completion of rehabilitation and take-off of the Abuja rail project, you will agree with me this is a project Mr. President takes as important and which will help in decongesting our traffic situation. “
“I’ve been there. As I came on board, Mr. President directed on the day the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held their annual conference that he wanted to ride on this metro line, at least in his first year in office. This, I think with your support, we are going to achieve.
“The amendment I want to make is this. Yes, it provided for N22 billion. Our problem is the dollar component of the project. You know this project was awarded in naira and dollar components.
“Right now, the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is saying they need their $7 million component. I will plead, if it is possible with this N22 billion; if looking at the differentials; if we can provide for the dollar component of $7 million and whatever that is remaining will be the naira component.
“This is because we tried to pay them in naira but they said the contract was in dollar and naira components.”
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who also appeared before the committee to defend N18 billion allocated to the commission from the supplementary budget, said it would be used for personnel emoluments and conduct of off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states.
He said N13.8 billion is allocated for personnel emoluments, N1.4 billion to augment the conduct of elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states, N1.6 billion for the conduct of 11 by-elections for National and State Assemblies.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who got N200 billion from the supplementary budget, said N104.8 billion would be for capital projects, while N95.2 billion is for expenditure.
