Road Projects: NASS Assures Ministry Of Support

The Joint Committee of Senate and House of Representatives on Works, has pledged its support to the Ministry of Works to ensure that all ongoing road projects in the country are expeditiously constructed and rehabilitated.
Deputy Director, Press of the Federal Ministry of works, Mr Stephen Kilebi, in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen, said the assurance was given during the 2020 Budget Defence of the ministry at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, while answering questions on issues of the deplorable condition of roads in the country and the delay to commence repairs, said the rainy season was not an ideal period for road construction and repairs because of flood.
The minister said that soon Nigerians would witness a turnaround in road repairs as his ministry would swing into action.
The minister, however, maintained that inadequate funding was the major challenge hindering his ministry from realizing its mandate and set goals.
He added that while the number of roads that needed to be repaired kept increasing on daily basis, the fund to fix them was grossly inadequate and at times not available.
Fashola revealed that the ministry was usually saddled with the problem of land compensation from communities, individuals and various tribes who make exorbitant claims for compensation from the Federal Government.
He, therefore, called on the legislators and the state governors to help his ministry out in this regard.
Fashola suggested prioritisation of the major roads for completion and rehabilitation.
According to him, priority in the construction and rehabilitation of roads should be given to the major highways that connect various state capitals, the sea ports, air ports, the fuel deports, among others.