President Bola Tinubu’s government says it requires ₦3 trillion to complete road projects awarded under the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited tax credit scheme. Works minister David Umahi announced this in Abuja while briefing journalists.

He stated that following the NNPCL’s decision to halt funding from August 1, Mr Tinubu directed the ministry to explore alternative sources of financing to ensure that no project is abandoned.

“Our president is a man with a large heart. Despite the funding stoppage by NNPCL, Mr President, as chairman of the Federal Executive Council, directed that alternative funding mechanisms be put in place to ensure completion of all projects,” Umahi said.

He noted that the ministry has compiled a list of all affected projects and will present them to the president for consideration under public-private partnership, where applicable, especially for contractors with capacity and funding.

“We are going to prepare a memo to the president on that,” he said.

Mr Umahi also stated that work had commenced on the Benin-Warri, Benin-Asaba road to the First Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road, and the Bayelsa and Delta axis. 

He added that in the North-Central, the Koton Karfe and Keffi bridges, as well as the Katsina-Ala road project through Benue, have also been approved for execution.

Mr Umahi said the Kabba-Ekiti road was also ongoing, as well as the Benin bypass road in the South-South. The minister said that there were numerous emergency projects in the North-East, including those in Gombe, Bauchi, and the Azare area, as well as the long stretch from Kano to Maiduguri.

Other ongoing projects, he said, include the Bauchi to Jigawa, Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi, Gombe-Bauchi, Kwara-Jebba, and Mokwa roads.

Deputy works minister Bello Goronyo commended Mr Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to road infrastructure .

“This is a president that has shown an uncommon commitment to fixing our roads that were neglected hitherto for more than 45 to 47 years ago,” stated Mr Goronyo. “I want to say that we can never have it better than this time when the roads are being maintained and reconstructed and this is something that each and every one of us can feel,see, and touch.”

(NAN)