The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has emphasized the need for an allocation of N18.6 trillion to address the pressing challenges in the road sector over the next four years.
He made this assertion during his appearance before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation while defending the ministry’s request for N300 billion from the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.
Minister Umahi underscored the importance of having contingency funds to effectively manage emergency situations on Nigeria’s road network.
He urged the National Assembly to consider ways to tackle the critical issues facing the country’s road sector, as substantial investment is required for a comprehensive solution.
“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 citizens are suffering; movement is stopped. It needs an emergency intervention. So, we appeal for a contingency to respect your directives on fixing emergency situations,” Umahi said.