We need over N.5tr annually to fix road infrastructure — FG

The federal government has said a minimum of N500 billion is needed annually for the next three years to complete 711 projects on road infrastructure in the country.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola made this known during an interactive session with newsmen on Tuesday, in Abuja.

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Fashion said of the 35, 000 kilometres network of roads expected to be constructed, work was already on-going on over 13, 000 kilometres.

He said the federal government was working assiduously to complete projects abandoned by successive governments spanning over 12 years.

“I think that a minimum of half a trillion every year over the next two, three years would be a strong support to really advance and complete as many as the 711 contracts we have,” the minister said.

“In terms of the percentage of roads done in the current budget, it depends on how you want to report. If you want to report cash side of government it will be about 75 percent because we have received only third quarter release and that is 75 percent.

“But if you want to measure actual work done, we have done more than 100 percent. That may look strange to you so let me explain. You see, construction companies often times do more work than we actually budgeted for them. So we end up owing them.

“Sometimes if you budget N1 the construction company will do N5 work. That is why we are owing more than what is in the budget.

“We have done a national survey of all the bridges and the maintenance and rehabilitation schedule is now from the worst to the best.

“So we’re starting from those that are really in critical condition like, Tambuwal bridge, Eko bridge, the third mainland bridge, Marine bridge, Chanchangi bridge and even the old Niger bridge is constantly maintained.

“On Benin-Lokoja, we have one road but five contractors. So, the totality of these are 711 and the total road network now under construction or rehabilitation is a little over 13, 000km in different stages of repairs out of the total federal road network of 35, 000km,” he added.