N’Assembly Raises Works Ministry Budget To Over ₦1tn

The amount allotted to the Ministry of Works in the 2024 budget has been increased by the National Assembly to ₦1.03 trillion from ₦657.3 billion.

This is an increase of ₦373 billion, ( 56.7%), over the initial amount stated in the appropriations law. Furthermore, it is also a (65.4%) increase over the sum allocated in the budget for 2023.

Naija News reports that a copy of the approved budget obtained by Punch Newspaper indicated that the rise was caused by the government’s decision to increase its capital budget from ₦617.9 billion to ₦987.3 billion.

The ministry is in charge of maintaining and repairing more than 33,000 kilometers of federal government roads nationwide.

A review of the document revealed that a number of major projects had been added to the approved budget.

As per the document, ₦94.83 billion was approved for the construction of Lafia Road and the dualization of 9th Mile (Enugu) Otukpo-Makurdi (Keffi Phase Ii) road project.

Additionally, ₦15 billion was approved for the construction of Ota-Idiroko Road Sections 1 through 3, ₦4 billion for the construction of Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti Road Sections 1 through 3, and ₦13.5 billion for the rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Sections 2 and 4.

Additionally, the government granted ₦22.750 billion for the Benin-Ilesha road to be dualized, ₦10.1 billion for the Malando-Garin-Baka-Ngaski-Wara road in Kebbi State, and ₦11 billion for the Koko-Besse-Zaria-Kala Kala route in Kebbi State.

It is anticipated that the dualization of the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road will cost ₦3.75,5 billion. The Iganmu bridge repair will cost ₦1.21 billion, while the Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section maintenance will cost ₦2 billion.

Other projects include the ₦10.7 billion dualization and construction of the Kano-Kwanar Dauja Hadejia road, the ₦12.3 billion reconstruction of the Amasiri-Uburu-Mpu-Ishiagu road, and the ₦5.1 billion installation of culverts and drains in South-West flood-prone districts.