Nigeria spends N73 billion on federal roads in 2016 – Fashola

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The Federal Government has so far spent N73 billion on road projects across the country.

Babatunde Fashola, the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, disclosed this on Thursday in Katsina at the 22nd National Council of Works meeting.

The meeting has “Prioritisation and Optimisation of Allocated Road Infrastructure Funds” as its theme.

The minister said the expenditure had been worth it because it would enhance the socio-economic development of the country.

He added that the amount spent was part of the N266 billion appropriated in the 2016 federal budget.

He noted that the money was used to settle contractors’ liabilities and road rehabilitation across the country.

He, however, said that the Federal Government would henceforth hold the 36 state controllers of works responsible for poor quality job on Federal Highways in their respective areas.

He said “state controllers of works are the representatives of the Federal Government in their respective states; we will give them all they need to carry out the job.

“They must, however, ensure that quality job is done on our roads or be held responsible.

“I am also appealing to state governments to create friendly relationship with the controllers to achieve the set goal.

“The administration considers transport infrastructure as fundamental requirement of development in any nation.

“This is because building roads is building connectivity of the Nigerian family; we will continue to put our roads in good shape.”

Mr. Fashola then directed the controllers to identify roads that were in bad condition, restore road signs on the highways, erect kilometre indicators and properly erect sign posts of towns and villages.

In his remarks, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State said the state government empowered its road maintenance agency for the rehabilitation of state roads.

He said over 50 per cent of vehicles plying the roads were, however, not roadworthy.

Mr. Masari urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts in preventing motorists from overloading their vehicles to reduce accidents.