The National Assembly in Nigeria has increased the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Works from the proposed N657.3billion to N1.03trillion. This represents a substantial increase of N373bn, or 56.7%, from the initial figure in the appropriation bill and a 65.4% increase from the amount approved in the 2023 budget.
The Ministry of Works is responsible for the repair and maintenance of over 33,000 kilometres of federal government roads across the country. The approved budget increase is mainly attributed to the increase in the capital budget from N617.9bn to N987.3bn.
The approved budget includes several capital projects, such as the construction of Lafia road, the dualisation of the 9th Mile (Enugu) Otukpo-Makurdi (Keffi Phase II) road project, the construction of Ota-Idiroko road sections one to three, the construction of Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti road sections one to three, rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt road sections two and four, dualisation of the Benin-Ilesha road, construction of Malando-Garin-Baka-Ngaski-Wara road in Kebbi State, construction of Koko-Besse-Zaria-Kala Kala road in Kebbi State, dualization of Aba-Ikot Ekpene road, repair of the Iganmu bridge, rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section.
Others are, dualisation and construction of the Kano-Kwanar Dauja Hadejia road, the reconstruction of Amasiri-Uburu-Mpu-Ishiagu road, the provision of culverts and drains at flood-prone areas in the south-west, and the purchase of vehicles for consultants and security supervision.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, had requested the National Assembly to increase the ministry’s 2024 budget to about N1.5tn to enable the completion of 10 selected critical roads and bridges in each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The increased budget is expected to facilitate the improvement of road infrastructure in the country.