Funds Threaten Completion Of East-West Road

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Godsday Orubebe, said in Abuja last Thursday that inadequate funding was threatening the completion of the N349 billion East-West dual carriage road project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the project was inherited from the Federal Ministry of Works by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in 2009, with 10 per cent work completion.

Orubebe made this known at a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs in Abuja.

According to him, a total of N133 billion has been expended on the project, with an outstanding liability of N24 billion.

He said that the project, which was initially scheduled to be completed in 2010, had been further shifted to December 2014, if adequate funding was provided.

He disclosed that only N23 billion was appropriated for the project in the 2012 budget with an additional N21 billion under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds.

“The 2012 budget as passed and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan is posing a very serious challenge to us as monies approved for projects are grossly inadequate.

“We have not got the funds needed for the development of the Niger Delta.’’

Orubebe explained that in order to complete the project, the ministry was making efforts to secure alternative sources funding from the Infrastructure Bank Plc.

He urged the committee to make adequate budgetary allocation to the ministry to enable it overcome these challenges.

The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Warman Ogoriba (PDP-Bayelsa), expressed shock at the amount of money allocated for the project.

He said that the committee would ensure that adequate funds were allocated to the project.