Dave Umahi, the minister of works, says that Nigeria wants roughly N18 trillion to handle its highway infrastructure challenges.

He famous that the annual allocations within the Nationwide Meeting’s Appropriation Payments are inadequate to satisfy these calls for.

Umahi shared this throughout a dialogue with journalists on Friday after defending the ministry’s 2025 finances estimates earlier than the Senate Committee on Works.

The federal authorities has earmarked a complete of N827 billion for the Ministry of Works within the 2025 finances.

Talking on the problem, Umahi mentioned, “The President inherited 2,064 tasks in 2023, valued at N13 trillion. Adjusting these tasks to present market realities brings the associated fee to about N18 trillion.”

He mentioned, “The President, along with his intensive expertise and background as an economist, understands the challenges we face.

“He’s working to safe loans to finish these tasks. Nevertheless, this effort usually faces public criticism.”

Umahi additional harassed the need of borrowing, stating, “Fixing our roads will function a catalyst for financial progress and assist tackle starvation by spurring financial actions. From these supplying sand and chippings to laborers, the ripple impact of infrastructure improvement is important.”

He additional mentioned, “It’s necessary to assist the President’s efforts to safe funding for these tasks. He can not create cash out of skinny air, and discouraging his initiatives is counterproductive. Annual budgets alone can not resolve our highway infrastructure deficits; we’d like substantial funding.”

Umahi additional lamented that the paucity of funds is irritating his efforts.

The minister mentioned, “I’ve not failed in lots of my life engagements however I’m feeling annoyed with fixing of roads in Nigeria with funds that aren’t in any manner, tangible for what are required.

“That is the rationale why particular funds within the type of loans, are wanted to be taken for highway infrastructure within the nation.”

Mpigi Barinada, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, additionally acknowledged the funding hole, stating that addressing Nigeria’s highway infrastructure requires substantial assets.

He defined, “These tasks are huge, and we should discover various funding sources to make sure their completion. When the Nationwide Meeting advocates for tasks in sure areas, it’s usually pushed by the pressing want to handle infrastructural deficits, not simply private pursuits.”