Works Minister Seeks More Investment In Road Infrastructure

Minister of Works, Mr
Mike Onohem-Emen, has canvassed investment in the construction of at least 14,000Km of roads annually, for Nigeria to bridge her infrastructure deficit and meet the vision 20:2020 target.
This according to him, would translate into an annual average expenditure of N750billion.
The minister stated this in his keynote address at the recent 20th National Council on Works held in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital with the theme; Reforming the Road Sector for Sustainable Economic Development.
He noted that Nigeria, like most African countries,” has a huge infrastructural deficit” said physical infrastructure such as roads, houses, power and water are essential for the growth of any economy.
According to him, “with adequate investment in infrastructure the deficit can be removed. For the road sector alone, it has been estimated that in order to adequately support economic growth at current growth rate and meet vision 20:2020 target, we need to invest in the construction of at least 14,000 Kilometres of new roads annually for the next seven years. We will also have to maintain and rehabilitate the existing road network as a matter of routine.
He said, “this will require average annual expenditure on roads to increase seven-fold to nearly N750 billion.”
Onohem-Em-en added, “Vision 20:2020 requires that Nigeria attains a GDP of at least $900 billion by the year 2020 and GDP per Capital of at least $4,000.
Experience has shown that there is a direct link between economic growth and the size and condition of road networks. There is a corresponding increase in the nation’s GDP.”