In a remarkable move, the National Assembly has raised the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Works, soaring from N657.3bn initially proposed to an impressive N1.03tn. This decision marks a substantial 56.7% increase from the initial appropriation bill and a notable 65.4% surge from the 2023 approved budget for the ministry.
The Ministry of Works, tasked with maintaining and repairing over 33,000 kilometers of federal government roads nationwide, saw its capital budget raised from N617.9bn to N987.3bn, according to an obtained copy of the approved budget.
Several capital projects have been introduced, reflecting a commitment to addressing infrastructural needs. Key allocations include N94.83bn for the construction of Lafia road and dualization of 9th Mile (Enugu) Otukpo-Makurdi (Keffi Phase II) road, N15bn for Ota-Idiroko road sections one to three, N4bn for Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti road sections one to three, and N13.5bn for the rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt road sections two and four.
Other notable projects in the approved budget involve the dualization of the Benin-Ilesha road (N22.750bn), construction of Malando-Garin-Baka-Ngaski-Wara road in Kebbi State (N10.1bn), and the construction of Koko-Besse-Zaria-Kala Kala road in Kebbi State (N11bn).
The Ministry also received approval for various projects, including the dualization of Aba-Ikot Ekpene road (N3.75bn), repair of the Iganmu bridge and rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section (N1.21bn and N2bn, respectively).
Additionally, N10.7bn has been allocated for the dualization and construction of Kano-Kwanar Dauja Hadejia road, N12.3bn for the reconstruction of Amasiri-Uburu-Mpu-Ishiagu road, and N5.1bn for culverts and drains at flood-prone areas in the South-West.
The Ministry of Works also secured approval for N3.35bn to purchase vehicles for consultants and security supervision.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, during the budget defense, urged the National Assembly to raise the ministry’s 2024 budget to approximately N1.5tn, emphasizing the need to complete crucial roads and bridges in each geopolitical zone. With the increased budget, expectations are high for the ministry to deliver on its promises and provide durable road infrastructure across the country. Umahi further challenged contractors to complete 150km of roads in each state and the Federal Capital Territory in 2024, excluding palliative work and other special projects.
