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Tag: road

  • Nigeria needs N400b yearly to fix roads – Senate

    Nigeria needs N400b yearly to fix roads – Senate

    THE Senate has said Nigeria needs N400 billion for the maintenance of 35,000 kilometers of Federal roads across the country.

    It described the N38 billion earmarked for road maintenance in the 2021 budget estimates as paltry compared to the serious maintenance required on the nation’s Federal roads.

    This is even as the National Assembly Joint Committee on Appropriation said it was working hard to submit a harmonised report on the N13.08trillion 2021 budget proposal on December 3.

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Gershom Bassey (Cross River South), decried the poor budgetary allocation for road maintenance in the 2021 Appropriation Bill while addressing reporters on Friday in Abuja.

    The senator explained that road maintenance in Nigeria, where road transportation is mostly used for the movement of people, goods and services across the country, could only be effectively carried out with about N400 billion each year.

    He added: “What the committee has just submitted to the Appropriation Committee for road maintenance in the 2021 fiscal year is the N38 billion proposed for it by the Executive, which cannot cover up to one-quarter of the entire length of deplorable roads in the country.

    “Unfortunately, despite having the power of Appropriation, we cannot as a committee jerk up the sum since we are not in a position to carry out the estimation of work to be done on each of the specific portions of the road.

    “Doing that without proposal to that effect from the Executive may lead to project insertion or padding, as often alleged in the media.

    “But the situation on ground, as far as the Committee on FERMA in both chambers are concerned, is very bad. It requires far more than the N38 billion earmarked.

    “If the roads are well maintained on yearly basis, reconstruction and rehabilitation, which require bigger amounts of money and years to carry out, may not be necessary as frequently as they are now.”

    As his committee was the last to submit its report to the Appropriation Committee on Friday, the Chairman, Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North), said the next stage would be to scrutinise the reports, harmonise them with the House of Representatives for submission at both chambers on Thursday.

    He said: “The process of presentation of reports as regards the 2021 budget estimates for the various MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) by the various committees scrutinising them is over, since all of them have submitted their reports.

    “What remains now is for those of us in the Appropriation Committee to collate the reports in harmonisation with the House of Representatives for final consideration and passage by both chambers.

    “The timetable for that has already been drawn up and we shall work assiduously by submitting the harmonised report of the budgetary proposal to the Senate on December 3, 2020, for final consideration and passage latest by the following week.”

  • JUST IN: FG finally agrees to repair Benin-Sapele-Warri expressway

    JUST IN: FG finally agrees to repair Benin-Sapele-Warri expressway

    The federal government (FG) has finally agreed to carry out repairs work on the ever busy Benin-Sapele-Warri expressway.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported on the bad state of the road from the death trap fringes of Benin City through the horrible Ologbo axis to gully-prone Oghara, wobbly Sapele bridges and the outskirts of Warri.

    Also, during a debate recently on the floor of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege had lamented the current state of the road, stressing the road is nothing to write home about.

    However, following constructive and fruitful engagements between the Delta Central Senator and the Minister for Works, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, the road would now be fixed.

    According to a statement by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser to the DSP on Media Matters, the Federal Ministry of Works was finalising preparations to undertake major works on this very important national corridor.

    Omo-Agege commended the Minister’s responsiveness, understanding and assurances on the need to urgently overcome the obvious and very serious challenges that the present state of the road poses to citizens.

    TNG reports the deplorable state of the Benin-Sapele-Warri expressway has caused untold hardship on the people and businesses operating in large parts of the Niger Delta region.

  • Agbor-Abraka-Eku road needs total reconstruction – Works Commissioner

    Agbor-Abraka-Eku road needs total reconstruction – Works Commissioner

    Delta State Commissioner for Works, Mr James Augoye has called on the Federal Government to commence work to reconstruct the Agbor-Abraka-Eku road.

    The Works Commissioner, who made the call on Thursday during a media parley, noted that the Agbor-Abraka-Eku road has expired and, therefore, needs total reconstruction.

    Augoye recalled that the failed road, which is taking a toll on motorists plying the route, especially Deltans, had been repaired twice by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration.

    He revealed that the road had been approved for reconstruction by the Federal Government and awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited.

    While disclosing that the State Government will no longer embark on repairs on the road, the Commissioner however, said if the Federal Government failed to commence work, the State Government might have to reconsider its decision.

    He assured of the State Government’s commitment to open up more roads across the State, especially in rural communities, as captured in the proposed 2021 budget.

    On the ongoing construction of Storm Water Drainage in the State Capital, he informed that the 6th phase of the project, which will link the Summit Road to Anwai River, will commence in 2021.

    Augoye called on Deltans to take ownership of government projects in their communities to prevent vandals from destroying such projects, citing the example of the removal of interlock bricks from constructed roads and iron steps from underground drainage.

  • Works, Housing, Power gulp N389bn of 2020 budget

    The ministries of Works and Housing, Power and Transportation gulped a chunk of the 2020 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    The Works and Housing (262 billion), Power N127 billion and Transportation (N123 billion) reiterated the government’s resolve to focus and capitalise on capital projects.

    President Buhari said although the government’s actual spending has reduced, it plans to leverage on private sector funding through our tax credit schemes will ensure our capital programmes are sustained.

    “For example, we launched the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, pursuant to which I have approved the construction and rehabilitation of 19 Nigerian roads and bridges of 794.4km across 11 states,” he said.

    “Indeed, the scheme has attracted private investment of over N205 billion and the first set of tax credits are being processed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

    “As I mentioned during my Independence Day Speech, under the Presidential Power Initiative, we will modernise the national grid in 3 phases; starting from 5 gigawatts to 7 gigawatts, then to 11 gigawatts by 2023, and finally 25 gigawatts afterwards in collaboration with the German government and Siemens.”

    Below is the breakdown by the President

    Universal Basic Education Commission: N112 billion;

    Defence: N100 billion;

    Zonal Intervention Projects: N100 billion;

    Agriculture and Rural Development: N83 billion;

    Water Resources: N82 billion;

    Niger Delta Development Commission: N81 billion;

    Education: N48 billion;

    Health: N46 billion;

    Industry, Trade and Investment: N40 billion;

    North East Development Commission: N38 billion;

    Interior: N35 billion;

    Social Investment Programmes: N30 billion;

    Federal Capital Territory: N28 billion; and

    Niger Delta Affairs Ministry: N24 billion.

  • Kidnappings: Soldiers should travel by road not rail – Senate

    By Emman Ovuakporie, Abuja
    … insist they should travel by road
    …raise alarm over kidnappers issuing notice to residents
    Disturbed by the spate of kidnappings in the country, the Senate wants soldiers to stop travelling by rail to Kaduna from Abuja since Kidnappers don’t attack them.
    It said kidnappers and bandits have taken over major roads, villages and towns, including the nation’s capital, Abuja.
    This development was sequel to the adoption of a motion, through a point of order, raised by Senator Dino Melaye, PDP, Kogi West, on the growing case of kidnapping along Abuja-Lokoja roads and other parts of the nation.
    Melaye recalled that the number of travelers that had been kidnapped in the last two weeks cant be quantified on that axis. He said eight, 11 and 18 people were recently kidnapped in September alone along that road.
    He explained that “In every part of the country, people are being kidnapped. Security agencies should secure roads across the country. Security agencies should protect the lives of every Nigerian. Something more aggressive must be done.”
    Minority leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, also expressed his frustration. He said he is out of new ideas on how to tackle the issue. He urged security agencies to come up with new ways to tackle the issue.
    “What do we need to do that we have not done. Maybe we need to do something abnormal. But what is that abnormal thing we need to do to solve this problem? Those of us with access to security still travel to Kaduna using the rail. We have abandoned the roads because of kidnapping.
    “All of a sudden, soldiers are not held by kidnappers. This is a serious issue and must be treated with every seriousness,” he said.
    Former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, revealed how kidnappers recently issued notices to some residents in his state in his state. He said the daredevil kidnappers issued a similar notice in a market in Gombe State.
    He said: “There is no issue disturbing Nigerians more than this issue. It used to be limited to some people. Today, nowhere is safe. Abuja is not safe anymore. They now kidnap in Asokoro.
    “Kidnappers went to the market in Gombe and had the guts to issue notices to people to either meet their demands or they will be kidnapped. Many villages were threatened and the university was almost closed down. They kidnap everyday and this is bad.”
    Worried by the growing menace, the Senate, has for the umpteenth time, called on security agencies to adopt a new approach that will address the growing trend.
    It called on security agencies to adopt new technologies to track activities of kidnappers and bandits carrying out attacks in different parts of the country.
    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while intervening, said a new radical approach must be adopted. He said while more funds should be allocated to tackle security concerns, he, however, insisted that the expenditure must be justified.
    “We need to do something differently. The way the security structure is designed, they can’t deliver. Our committees over sighting security agencies should take up this issue and follow it through. Kidnappers and bandits use telephone lines to negotiate. We will be a big more radical. We may give security agencies more funds. They need to give account.
    “We must insist that security agencies must not join the problem. Security agencies should stop dragging the train with us. Let them use the roads. It’s time for our security agencies to go technological. They can deploy drones,” Lawan said.
    It waa also revealed that there are plans to come up with an anti-kidnapping legislation which is expected to be domesticated in states.

  • FEC approves N72.9bn for road reconstruction in Lagos

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N72.9 billion for reconstruction of road linking Creek Road to Tincan Island, Oworonshoki and Toll gate at the Lagos end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the project which would be completed in two years covers 27.8 kilometers of five lanes on both sides of the roads.

    According to him, the project excluded Coconut-Mile 2 part of the road that had already been done.

    He said the project would be handled by Dangote Group on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis.

  • Lagos sympathises with residents, commuters over incessant congestion on Apapa road

    …Urges FG to do more

    The Lagos State Government has expressed deep sympathies with commuters and residents of Apapa and other parts of Lagos affected by the lingering logjam occasioned by the congestion created by trucks and articulated vehicles along the Apapa vehicular corridor.

    In a statement issued on Thursday by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Government expressed sadness over the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters seeking the use of the Apapa-Oshodi highway and other routes leading to the ports.

    Blaming the renewed congestion on the recalcitrance of owners and drivers of tankers and trucks to fully comply with the subsisting directive that restricts their movement within the State, the Government also attributes the worsened situation to the ongoing industrial action by a section of workers at the Apapa ports which has slowed down the pace of goods clearance as well as the slow pace of repair works on the roads leading to the ports, most of which are federal roads.

    To ameliorate the situation, the Government assured Lagosians that the State Police Command and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been directed to flood the affected areas with sufficient officers to further control traffic and bring sanity to bear “on this hectic situation so as to bring immediate succour to our people.”

    The statement further said that the State Government would urge the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing to consider shifting the proposed closure dates for the Third Mainland Bridge to a latter date to avoid compounding the situation as Ikorodu Road and adjoining roads will not be adequate to cope if Third Mainland Bridge is shut for repairs at a time that Apapa-Oshodi express road and others leading in and out of the ports are experiencing an unusual, albeit, temporary traffic snarl.

    “It is indeed pathetic that private firms seeking to make profit from legitimate commerce would continue to subject the citizens of Lagos State to horrendous pains inspite of the provision of holding bays for their trucks and tankers until it is their turn to pick goods at the ports,” it stated.

    The statement added that the recent rehabilitation of the truck park at Orile Iganmu, with capacity to take 3,000 trucks shows the commitment of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration to find a lasting solution to the enormous challenge posed by the indiscriminate use of the highways by articulated vehicles.

    According to the Commissioner, government had hoped that, with the unfortunate loss of lives and property to destruction caused by tanker explosions and truck mishaps, the conscience of the haulage stakeholders would be pricked sorely enough to save Lagosians from the threat of carnage on the highways by adhering to directives and also investing in truck terminals themselves.

    He however assured that the State Government would not allow its highways turned to death traps while urging speedy delivery of the roads under reconstruction within the axis and full computerisation of the ports operations in order to save the State from this incessant but avoidable hardship.

    “If the powers of the State is inadequate to force these powerful merchants to obey the law, shall we also say that the Federal Government with all the forces at its command, is unable to protect residents of Lagos against this common threat?”

    The statement noted that while Mr. President had assured Lagos State that the Federal Government would tackle this matter decisively, the latest hardship makes the much needed intervention extremely imperative.

    The Commissioner expressed regrets that ongoing rehabilitation of roads in Apapa and its environs and the efforts towards sanitizing truck entry procedures have pushed the trucks to other parts of the city all because the haulage operators have continued to illegally turn major roads to parks thereby using public facilities to increase their private profit.

    “We therefore once again call on the Federal Government to save Lagosians by assisting to enforce the rule that all haulage operators must have designated parks immediately, while we continue to solicit the understanding and cooperation of the general public.”

     

     

  • Road construction: Okowa urges Deltans to be patient

    Delta State Governor Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has called for patience and understanding by the people whose movement have been restricted as a result of several road construction and drainage projects going on in different parts of the state.

    TheNewsGuru reports Governor Okowa made the call on Monday while inspecting the service drain project along Summit Road, Asaba.

    According to the governor who was represented by the Commissioner For Works, Chief James Augoye, “the construction works going on in our state, no doubt, have restricted the movement of some persons, we regret such and appeal to them to be patient, the projects are designed for the comfort of all when completed and we are confident that in the next couple of days, the roads will be free for easy movement.”

    “You can see the quality of work going on at this drainage project, it will channel water from the Summit road, to the Amilimocha river, we believe that once these projects are completed the flooding being experienced in Asaba will be a thing of the past and we are happy with the quality of work at the projects and the contractors are working with speed to ensure early delivery”.

    Governor Okowa reiterated his administration’s commitment to constructing roads and checking flood in major cities and towns of the state through the construction of drainage and sewers.

    “With good roads, functional drainage system, the state will be more attractive to investors and more comfortable to those of us who live here,” he emphasized.

    He commended the determination of the contractors to beat deadlines, emphasizing, “making Asaba free of flood is a task the Governor is determined to actualize and bearing in mind the fact that the state is playing host to international athletics competition in the next few days has made it imperative for the projects to be completed early enough.”

     

  • Road construction: Comply with traffic directive, LASTMA urges motorists

    Road construction: Comply with traffic directive, LASTMA urges motorists

    …Warns against attack on officials, recommends five for dismissal

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Thursday appealed to motorists plying routes where major construction works are ongoing to bear with the State Government and comply with traffic directive, saying concerted efforts have been put in place to deliver the projects on schedule.

    LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa who said this after monitoring flow of traffic along Lagos- Abeokuta and Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, said the road projects across the State were being implemented by the State Government to ultimately achieve free flow of traffic within the metropolis, and thereby boost economy and commerce.

    The State Government is currently working on major road projects including Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway, Oshodi- Apapa Expressway, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Agege – Pen Cinema, among other massive roads reconstruction across the State.

    Musa said necessary engineering research and traffic count have been done before the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on the Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway, just as he dispelled insinuation that the project would make the road to be smaller in length.

    “Let me appeal to motorists plying the routes where construction activities are ongoing to bear with us and comply with instruction by traffic personnel on the roads. The projects will ultimately contribute to free flow of traffic as well as boost economy and commerce.

    “Also, the construction of the BRT corridor along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway will not narrow the road size as being anticipated by some motorists, but it would rather enhance the road capacity to accommodate more vehicles and improve free flow of traffic at completion,” Musa said.

    Specifically, the LASTMA boss appealed to members of the public using roads under construction to exercise patience in the meantime, adding that the projects, upon completion, would make traffic congestion being experienced on the roads to become a thing of the past.

    While assuring that motorists and commuters would soon heave a sigh of relief, Musa urged them to continue to obey traffic rules and regulations and cooperate with the LASTMA officials who, according to him, are on the road to ensure free flow of traffic.

    He commended motorists for their patience and perseverance since the commencement of the projects, and appealed to them to bear with the government as the road construction works and diversions were designed to ensure the safety of motorists and free flow of traffic.

    “All the measures put in place to control traffic are in the interest of public and the State Government is doing its best to ensure that the projects are completed within the stipulated period,” he said.

    Besides, Musa condemned incessant attacks of traffic officials by motorists, especially commercial drivers, saying the officials were on the roads to ensure motorists and commuters get to their destinations without stress and discomfort.

    “It was disheartening, callous and barbaric seeing a LASTMA official, Olanrewaju Yusuf stabbed on duty at Onipanu last week Wednesday while performing a lawful duty, by a driver of commercial yellow bus with registration number EPE 714 XP for picking passengers at undesignated place and conductor hanging at the door.

    “I like to use this medium to call on motorists to always report erring officials to the agency and not adopt self help as anybody caught attacking officials of the agency would face full wrath of the law,” Musa said.

    Meanwhile, the agency said five traffic officials in the State have been recommended for dismissal for various forms of offenses ranging from extortion, harassment and violation of Lagos State Public Service Rules.

    In addition, 10 others were reprimanded, 14 recommended for demotion and 15 others were issued letters of warning, while three were exonerated after careful investigation.

    “The affected officers appeared in the month of April before the Personal Management Board (discipline) to defend and make presentation on various actions that bothered on indiscipline against them,” the agency said.

    It would be recalled that some traffic officials of the agency were intercepted at various parts of the State for various actions that were not in tandem with the LASTMA operational manual and public service rules of the State Government.

  • Stakeholders laud FG for improvements in nation’s road sector

    …As Fashola presents Federal Highways (Control of Dimensions, Weights and Axle Load) Regulations 2018

    Stakeholders in the nation’s road sector, Monday in Abuja lauded the improvements on the roads across the country, commending the Federal Government, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, and his team for the innovative approach to road management since the inception of the Buhari Administration.

    Speaking at a One-Day Public Enlightenment on the Developments in the Road Sector, the stakeholders, who included the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association among other road users, noted that the Minister has done a lot to restore confidence of Nigerians on the nation’s road sector.

    In his goodwill message at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre venue of the event, President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najimdeem Yasin, congratulated the Minister for his efforts in executing the 2017 budgetary proposals as regards to the development of road network across the country.

    Represented at the occasion by Alhaji Nasiru, the NURTW President also expressed appreciation to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the prudent management of the nation’s scarce resources noting that since the beginning of the present administration, the road sector in the country never had it as good as is being currently experienced despite the shortfall in the nation’s revenue generation.

    The NURTW boss, however, pointed out that as the efforts and actions of the government to improve the roads were being applauded, it was also necessary to direct its attention to a lot more of the roads that still needed urgent attention urging the Minister to put in place a mechanism to institutionalize the culture of construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of Federal roads as well as putting necessary instruments that would guide against the abuse of the roads by the road users.

    Such mechanisms, the Union leader said, included weighbridges, transit parks and provision of other road furniture adding that as a transport workers’ union occupying the leadership of the International Transport Federation (ITF) and the Global Vice President, the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers had taken the sensitization and training of its members very seriously as it could not afford to operate short of international standard.

    Disclosing that the NURTW, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) regularly organized series of enlightenment campaigns for the union members in order to encourage them to maintain good driving culture, the Union boss declared, “I want to assure you of our continuous support and loyalty to every initiative that will improve the safety and sustenance of roads in the Federation”.

    In his goodwill message on behalf of his association, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Kassim Bataiya, expressed appreciation to the Minister for matching his words with action recalling that on the first of February 2018, the Minister, at a meeting with the various transport unions in his office, did promise that he would convoke such an enlightenment Workshop.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Union, Mr. Aloga I. Okpobo, the NARTO President, who was last week elected President of the African Road Transport Union in Marrakech, Morocco, commended the Minister for keeping his words applauding him for the on-going rehabilitations and reconstruction of roads across the country.

    Noting that the government was currently raising funds from various sources to meet the required funding of roads in the country, the union President declared, “This has demonstrated that in a very short time Nigerian roads will meet the expectations of Nigerians”.

    He also recalled that during the last meeting with the Minister, the unions made various recommendations including the issue of Axle Load, which, according to him, was on the front burner of the discussions adding that the recommendations which were both in the short, medium and long terms, included the banning of the importation of 60,000 litres capacity trucks into the country as they were negatively impacting the roads in the country.

    Alhaji Bataiya also recalled that the Unions recommended to the Minister that those constructing such trucks above 60,000 litres in the country should be warned to desist forthwith adding that the Unions also asked government to give a five year moratorium to enable owners of such vehicles to recoup their investment before the final phase out.

    Other recommendations, he said, include that the Federal Government should ban the use of steel trucks and replace them with aluminum trucks “because aluminum trucks are lighter in terms of weight capacity” and for the Government to continue the road rehabilitation and expansion it has earlier started as, adding that while the ban of the use of steel trucks would address the issue of axle load, the rehabilitation and expansion of roads would “go a long way in bringing relief to Nigerian roads”.

    Pledging the support of the association to the Federal Government “in all its efforts to put Nigerian roads on course”, the NARTO boss declared, “We are also here to say that we are totally in support of this workshop and to commend the Hon. Minister for putting the workshop together because in doing so he has matched his words with action”.

    In his own goodwill message, the National Chairman of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association, Mr. Salimon Akanni Oladiti, commended the Minister for “his courage” in organizing the Workshop pointing out that it is only when one is courageous and doing something right that such a person could invite the public to brief them of such action.

    Noting that the workshop would give participants a further insight into the developments in the road sector, the Chairman declared, “As major stakeholders in the Nigerian road sector, we have in recent times witnessed tremendous efforts on the part of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing which has made us to believe that the dark and horrible days of bad roads will soon be over”.

    “It is also important to use this opportunity to commend the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing under the headship of Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, for the increased strides his Ministry has been making since he mounted the saddle as the Hon. Minister in his stride to improve the road network. His efforts to reactivate road signage for the safety of road users is unparalleled in the history of Nigerian roads”.

    Others who gave good will messages included the President Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, High Chief Musa Shehu Isawere, represented by Comrade Henry Ejioffor, who also commended the Minister for the innovations he has introduced into the management of the nation’s road sector and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who said in identifying with the convocation of the Workshop, he would be the ultimate beneficiary pointing out that the impressive turnout of the trade unions only signified the fact that they were in full support and in alignment with the Minister adding, “ It means less agitations and strikes”.

    In his Keynote address, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, said the convocation of the Workshop was an indication of the important role that road transportation plays in the nation’s economic development adding that the critical place of road transportation in the country’s evolution and the national life had never been more alive than presently.

    “Presently the haulage of industrial goods, agricultural produce and industrial raw material, petroleum products, power plant components and other economic materials required in the manufacturing sector, are carried out using the road network”, the President noted adding that it was this realization that underscored the promise of change by the present administration in May 2015 with infrastructure as a priority.

    Pointing out that this has been fulfilled by the administration “by policy and action, President Buhari further declared, “It is on record that this administration has raised the budgetary allocation for Capital project from 15 per cent to a minimum of 30 per cent and committed to physical stimulus targeted at infrastructure”.

    “The result is the revival of construction activities and other projects nationwide. From 2015 to date, my administration has constructed several hundred kilometres of inter-state federal roads and bridges to ease the movement of persons, goods and services”, he said adding, however, that in order to take the full benefit of the projects, when finally completed and get value for the investment “we must change our ways and this government has signed on for that change”.

     

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, said the Workshop was meant to reflect and agree on the need for change about how Nigerians have used their Road infrastructure adding that the country’s Economic growth, National productivity and job opportunities would be impacted by the conclusions and resolutions of the meeting.

    Noting that there are now existing treaty obligations within the West African sub region and beyond that regulate the amount of load any goods vehicle can put on an axle and by extension on the road in order to do business within ECOWAS and beyond, Fashola said the only way to optimize the opportunities that lie in road networks like Trans-Saharan highway that connects Nigeria to Chad, Niger, Tunisia, Mali and Algeria; the Lagos- Abidjan Highway through Benin, Togo and Ghana, or the Enugu- Cameroon Highway through Abakaliki – Ogoja , Ikom and Mfum was to sensitize road transporters and imbibe the existing treaties.

    The Minister, who thanked the President for finally signing the instruments of ratification as soon as it was brought to his attention, after many years of delay prior to his tenure, added, “This meeting is critical to the achievement of our common goal for shared prosperity. Our compliance with these regulations will open a massive door of opportunity and prosperity of cross-border trade to Nigerians engaged in the transport business”.

    “This is why this meeting was convened; because when President Buhari once said that “we will change our habits and we will change Nigeria,” I believe this is one of the things he had in mind. While it is true that we could have done better by way of massive investment in our transport infrastructure during the windfall of income from oil, this Government is now rapidly and aggressively addressing road transport infrastructure repairs, rehabilitation and construction as many of you who travel regularly will attest”, he said.

    Fashola, who noted that there is no state in Nigeria today, where contractors would not be seen busy at work, added, “The crux of this meeting is to first acknowledge the President is only one man who cannot be everywhere, and secondly to recognize that we are the actors of the change that is required to take us to prosperity and thirdly to recognize that, the way we use the roads when finally completed will determine how long they last and whether they deliver prosperity or not”.