Senate Plans Review Of Annual Road Sector Funding

The Chairman of Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Ayogu Eze, says the committee has commenced plans to change the funding of road sector from yearly budget to a rolling plan.

Eze told newsmen in Enugu on Monday that the changes had become necessary in view of the disruptions that occurred in procurement.

“We will continue to do our best to ensure that we change the funding of road sector from the yearly budget cycle to create a rolling plan where capital budgets can go for three or four years at a stretch.

“So that these disruptions that occur as a result of procurement are halted. “

Sen. Eze, who is representing Enugu North Senatorial zone, said the committee would also find other sources of funding the sector by involving the private sector.

“We have to design a funding architecture that will give sovereign guarantees to people who want to invest in the road sector, so that we guarantee that they get their investment back at the appropriate time.“

On the planned reintroduction of toll gates, Eze said it was necessary in order to put the roads in good shape.

“We need our roads to be in a continued good shape. If we want good roads, we pay for the good roads.’’

He explained that the principle of toll gates was to create a secondary road for those who did not want to pay tolls.

“Those who want to go on good motorways and arrive at their destinations on time can pay the toll. “

He said the senate would insist that before the toll gates became operational, people would be given option to have secondary roads.

Eze assured the people of the committee’s determination to ginger the Federal Ministry of Works and relevant agencies to develop the roads in the country.