Budget: Works ministry to spend N1bn on grass-cutting, N3.1bn on vehicles

The Ministry of Works has proposed to spend N3.191 billion on vehicles in 2024, an analysis of the budget has shown.

A figure breakdown indicated that the ministry plans to spend 1bn on vehicles for its consultants and security provision, while N1.85bn was budgeted for 37 project vehicles.

Also, N160m was allocated for ‘project vehicles for monitoring HDMI concessioned roads for 6 GAC, GS4 SUV 2022, Toyota Hilux, 2022 model, and 1 15-seater Toyota Hiace bus and 2 Toyota Prado.

N181m was also set aside for the purchase of 1 Hilux for project monitoring and evaluation and 1 4X4 wheel drive.

• NIGERIA DAILY: How To Write The Perfect Undergraduate Project
• Plateau APC chieftains jostle for Lalong’s ministerial post

The ministry, which planned to expend 566.4bn on capital projects, also plans to spend 330m on computers; 185m on health and medical equipment, 145m on sporting and gaming equipment, 105m on library books and equipment, 334,1bn on provision on roads and 214.4bn on road rehabilitation or repairs.

Apart from the vehicles to be purchased for consultants, N410bn was also budgeted for “Consultancy services for new design contracts for roads and bridges on the federal road network.”

But the project appeared twice on the ministry budget items with the same amount and different item codes – ­ ERGP12173747 and ERGP12173794.

While both items are ongoing projects, there is another N410m for “Payment of consultancy services enumeration for enumeration on row for the access road phase 2b to the Niger Bridge,” which is a new project.

Another is N71.7m for “consultancy services for the supervision of new roads and bridges,” and N89m for legal consultancy.

N1bn to clear grass

The ministry went on to budget a total of N1bn to ‘control vegetation’ on different roads across the country.

These include; Kabba-Ayere-Ondo State Border Road (Km0+000-Km22+000) In Kogi State, N16.7m, Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Road (Km0+000- Km10+000) in Kogi State, 33m; Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Road, Phase III (Km20+000-Km30+000) in Kogi State, N33m; Abuja-Lokoja Dual Carriageway, Phase IV (Km150+000-Km179+700) in Kogi State, N37.3m; Abuja-Lokoja Dual Carriageway, Phase I (Km82+000-Km101+000) in Kogi State, N31.5m;  Itobe-Ayingba Road, Phase I (Km0+000- Km28+000) in Kogi State, N20.7m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.150+000 – Ch. 162+400, N46.4m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.61+600 – Ch. 69+300 N28.8m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.88+000 – Ch.97+750), N36.5m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.77+500 – Ch. 88+000 N39.3m; Lokoja-Benin Dual Carriageway, Phase I (Km1+000-Km52+700) in Kogi State; N36.5m; Ayingba-Ankpa-Benue State Border Road, Phase I (Km0+000-Km49+500) in Kogi State N34.9m; Okene-Kabba Road (Km28+000-Km35+000) In Kogi State N25.3m.

Others Include; Itobe-Ayingba Road Phase II (Km28+000- Km56+000) In Kogi State N20.7m; Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Dual Carriageway, Phase 2I (Km10+000-Km20+000) In Kogi State N33m; Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Dual Carriageway, Phase II (Km40+000-Km56+000) In Kogi State N33m, Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch68+850 – Ch76+000 N33m; Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch61+600 – Ch68+850, 33.5m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch128+250 – Ch138+000 N36.5m Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch107+700 – Ch117+900 N38.2m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch97+750 – Ch107+700 N37.2m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch76+000 – Ch83+350, N34m; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.132+100-Ch 141+300, N42.5m.

It Also Included; Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.117+900 – Ch. 128+250 Ongoing N38.7m; Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.3+400 – Ch. 10+650 Ongoing N27.1m, Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.107+700-Ch. 117+900, N38.2, Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.97+750 – Ch. 107+700, N37.2m And Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway (Ch.18+250 – Ch. 44+050, N1.3m.

While all are ongoing projects, two are new, which aimed at vegetation control and desilting of Uyo Ikot Ekpene Road and Ikot Ekpene Abak Road in Akwa Ibom State, costing N61.2m and N67.7m respectively.

The ministry also budgeted N30m for FOI Act implementation and finance and account compliance with FOI Act and other relevant matters with constitutional authorities’ to cost N9.2m.