Nigerians have been assured by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi that the current dilapidated federal road networks will be transformed to durable ones in two years.
Umahi stated this at the inauguration of the Board members of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency on Thursday in Abuja.
He said a network of good roads will drastically reduce the current inflation rate and high price of goods and services.
Umahi stated that road infrastructure is critical to the socio-economic development of the nation, adding that the critical sectors that drive economic growth rely greatly on road infrastructure development.
He said, ‘We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country and for me the number one thing Nigerians need is durable roads. Roads are everything and if we fix our roads today, we will bring down inflation in this country because bad roads affect every aspect of our economic activities. Is it transportation of petroleum products, agricultural produce, trade, or movement of tourism?
‘A rich man can send his children to private schools or hospitals but we can never have private roads in this country. So, this is a common denominator for every one of us.
‘Mr president understands the plight of our people as far as road infrastructure is concerned. He is doing everything within the budget and outside to fix our roads and I want to assure Nigerians that our roads will be fixed within the next two years, we will see very serious tremendous transformation on most of our roads.
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‘From today, contractors that bid for that process will start to receive their award letters and many will be going to site as soon as they receive their award letters.’
The Minister further charged the newly inaugurated members of Governing Board of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to brace up to the challenges of road infrastructure maintenance facing the country and show unwavering commitment to the road maintenance programmes.
‘For FERMA, the president has directed for a review of your activities. This review is to give authority to some of the directors that represent the zones, what we have today on our roads are boreholes and it develops from a pin hole because no one takes care of it.
‘The story of FERMA is not very sweet and we will not blame you but we are going to do things differently. There is no improvement on our roads without passion. The day we become patriotic and begin to take public things as if it were our own, then we will see tremendous changes.’
Umahi further warned, ‘Don‘t stay in Abuja. If you are staying in Abuja, maybe you are coming for monthly meetings but you must go round every section of your zone, open platforms, and do weekly meetings with your zonal workers.