The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi Friday lamented that the sum of N800 billion allocated to his ministry in the 2025 budget proposal was inadequate to address the country’s road infrastructure needs.
He said there was a need for adequate funding to enable the ministry to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones across the country.
He appealed to the House Committee on Works chaired by Hon. Akin Alabi to consider increasing the Ministry’s budgetary allocation for the 2025 fiscal year.
Umahi disclosed this in Abuja during the 2025 budget defense session organized by the committee adding that the scope of road projects the ministry aims to undertake cannot be achieved with the “meagre budget allocation.
He was of the opinion that borrowing funds to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is crucial for the nation’s progress.
Umahi noted: “We plead with you to help us. N800 billion cannot do anything for us. It cannot address our road needs, and so we plead with you to help us.
“When the nation is in recession, you have to borrow money and invest in infrastructure. That is how you emerge from a recession. Infrastructure is a catalyst for economic activities, and this hunger we talk about will become a thing of the past.
“Food sellers, sand suppliers, gravel workers, and others will benefit. Support Mr. President, and let’s borrow money to build infrastructure so Nigeria can be great again.”
The Chairman of the Committee promised to summon the Minister of Finance and the Head of the Budget Office to explain the rationale behind the ministry’s low budget allocation.