The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, says the N800 billion captured in the 2025 budget proposal of his ministry for road infrastructure needs cannot do anything meaningful.

To this end, he has appealed to the House of Representatives Committee on Works to help by raising it so he can address the nation’s road infrastructure needs.

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,” Umahi begged when he appeared before the committee on Friday to defend his ministry’s 2025 budget.

The minister emphasised the need for adequate funding to enable the ministry to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones across the country.

Umahi explained that the scope of road projects he intends to undertake cannot be achieved with the “meagre budget allocation,” pointing out that borrowing funds to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is crucial for the nation’s progress.

He said, “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. “

Responding to questions from committee members on the state of roads nationwide, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to completing ongoing road projects.

Chairman of the Committee, Akin Alabi, 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.

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