David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, lamented insufficient funding for road infrastructure, stating that over 2,000 inherited projects now cost N18 trillion due to rising expenses. He emphasized that annual budgets alone cannot solve the issue and urged innovative funding to boost economic growth through improved road infrastructure.
David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, has expressed frustration over the challenge of fixing the nation's roads due to inadequate funding. Addressing the Senate Committee on Works during a budget defense session, Umahi highlighted that the current budgetary allocations are insufficient to address the extensive road network issues.
According to Umahi, the administration inherited 2,064 road projects valued at N13 trillion, a figure that has since risen to nearly N18 trillion due to escalating costs. He emphasized that addressing these infrastructure needs cannot rely solely on annual budget provisions. Instead, innovative funding mechanisms and external borrowing are necessary to make significant progress.
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi, underscored the economic importance of road infrastructure, noting that completed projects serve as catalysts for growth, creating jobs and reducing hunger. He urged stakeholders to prioritize infrastructure as part of the nation’s development strategy.
The minister acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to explore borrowing options to address the funding gaps, describing the president as an experienced economist who understands the critical role of infrastructure in economic advancement.
Several lawmakers on the committee agreed with Umahi's assessment. They noted that the N827 billion allocated to the works ministry in the 2025 fiscal year falls short of the resources required to tackle the country’s growing road maintenance and construction demands.
