The Nigerian Government has requested the support of the World Bank in funding road construction projects across the nation.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi made this request when a delegation from the World Bank visited him in his office at the Ministry in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
In a press statement by the Ministry’s Deputy Director Press and Public Relation, Clement Ezeora, the Minister explained that funds deficit has stalled the progress of critical road projects.
He listed priority projects to include the East–West Road (comprising over eight sections), the Enugu–Onitsha Road Project, the Kano–Jigawa–Maiduguri Road Corridor, and the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
He added that, lack of funds makes long term planning impossible hence the Ministry’s focus on short-term goals.
The statement read in part, “The minister disclosed that when he assumed office, the Ministry inherited about 260 weak road links, 50 dilapidated bridges, and numerous failed road sections nationwide. To address these urgent challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved ₦20 billion for the completion of some priority road projects, many of which are currently being commissioned across the country, as observed by journalists.”
Umahi explained that, “Given current realities, long-term planning is less feasible, and the focus must be on short-term interventions aimed at completing major ongoing road projects. He stressed that funding remains a major constraint and reiterated that new projects cannot be initiated while existing ones remain incomplete.”
The Works Minister added that the government is carrying out a management strategy for the roads; the “Build, Update and Maintain” strategy, under which the government is responsible for constructing roads while the private sector is engaged to maintain them.
The World Bank delegation, led by Mr. Matthew Verghis, stated that the purpose of the visit was to discuss practical ways of improving Nigerian roads, which he described as the country’s most important infrastructure asset.
A member of the World Bank delegation, Mr. Franz Drees-Gross, noted that the World Bank’s overarching objective is to create jobs and reduce poverty hence their focus on road infrastructure as it is central to poverty reduction, because it generates employment directly and indirectly across various sectors of the economy.
He highlighted priority areas of interest, to include the establishment of State Roads Funds, State Road Maintenance Agencies, improved flood control through effective drainage systems, and increased Private Sector financing.
Mr. Verghis further noted that the World Bank can only fund contracts that comply with World Bank procurement standards, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and due process in project execution.