Nigerian govt proposes N341bn for emergency road, bridge repairs

The Federal Government has proposed N341 billion for emergency repair of roads and bridges nationwide.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, stated this while updating members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works on the status of the Third Mainland and Carter Bridges in Lagos on Saturday.

The minister and the lawmakers were on a tour of the bridges.

Umahi said that repairing the bridges would avert dangers.

He, however, the budgeted amount might not be sufficient considering the extent of the damage to the bridges.

The minister said: “We have proposed that N341 billion will be needed. We don’t know how much this is going to cost.

“If we are to rebuild these bridges, even N30 trillion will not do it; so, a stitch in time saves nine. This is very important.

“Let me report that Julius Berger had been doing very beautiful work until they encountered this situation.

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“We are putting heads together with them. We are also consulting internationally to see what the solution will be.

“It is important that the National Assembly bears in mind that we have problems. There are no problems that cannot be surmounted but problems should not be overlooked.”

He praised President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructural development.

Umahi also called for urgent intervention on the bridges.

The National Assembly team gave the assurance that an urgent public engagement would be called to discuss the state of Nigerian roads.

They were led by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Peter Nwebonyi.

Others were the Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Osita Ngwu, Senator Mpigi Barinada, and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi.

The lawmakers decried the lack of a maintenance plan after road construction or rehabilitation in the country.

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