The Nigerian government will review and complete road infrastructure projects inherited from previous administrations based on the availability of funds.
The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi stated this in Abuja during a meeting with road contractors, where he gave clarification on a public misconception that the government intended to stop all inherited projects.
The Works Minister explained that “the government will do a contract review and cost augmentation on the inherited ongoing projects in view of the geometric rise in cost of contract elements due to inflation.”
“It was Mr. President, out of his very exceptional magnanimity, that directed that all inherited projects should be made alive through appropriation, promising that he was going to be looking for ways to fund the projects, even outside the budgetary provisions, through the National Assembly.
“What we are doing now is to review the projects in line with availability of funds and make a proposal to FEC. If such a project has attained about 80% completion, then we make a proposal to FEC that in subsequent appropriation, money should be made available, and such projects should be made a priority, so that it could be completed,” Umahi explained.
The Minister clarified that the review of was necessary due to a very major difference between the increase in contract costs or the project cost and also between what the ministry is looking for and the available funding.
He said; “The subject matter in fact was not about the unit cost, because we are very satisfied as a ministry with the costs that we have offered to you, which are actually the unit cost in line with the realities of the market prices. Some of these projects were awarded 18 years ago, some 10 years ago, 5 years ago.”
Regarding sourcing of funds for the projects, Umahi said “the government is working studiously to bring funding and budgeting innovations.”
He further said that the Ministry of Works is to work with the Federal Ministries of Finance and Budget and National Planning to put forward proper budgetary estimates for the 2025 financial year for those projects that were not appropriately budgeted for but have attained probably 80% completion so that such projects might be completed and delivered.
For projects with dualization, the Minister directed all contractors with such projects to first complete one carriageway and turn it over for public use and must within the period maintain the other carriageway for public use.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
