The minister of works, Dave Umahi, has said the Federal Government will need N18.6 trillion to address issues affecting the road sector in the next four years.
Umahi spoke when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation to defend the N300 billion for the ministry from the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.
The minister called for contingency funds to enable the ministry to deal with emergency situations on the nation’s roads.
“On the whole, to address our road sector for four years, we would need about N18.6 trillion, so the National Assembly must wear its thinking cap on how we can address our road sector.
“I appeal to the National Assembly that the Executive should respect your motions on certain interventions. We must have a contingency fund. When you ask me to go and intervene on certain roads which have collapsed, I have to liken the situation to a man on life support. The man needs immediate attention.
“Where there is an emergency, the road is cut and the people are suffering; movement is stopped. It needs an emergency. So, we appeal for contingency to respect your directives on fixing emergency situations,” Umahi said.
