Roads deficit major challenge to future economic growth-Official

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing, Mohammed Bukar, gas disclosed that despite present improvements in GDP growth , road infrastructure deficit and its attendant adverse effect on the transport sector remained a major impediment to future economic prosperity of Nigeria , especially in the area of food supply, employment generation and wealth creation.
He made the revelation yesterday at the ongoing meeting of Federal and State Permanent Secretaries at the 25th National Council on Works in Calabar Cross River State.
The theme of the Council Meeting is ‘’ Infrastructure as the pathway for prosperity’’ which according to him was ‘’apt and deliberately chosen to address issues of job creation , poverty alleviation and wealth creation.”
Bukar represented by the Director Highways,Planning and Development, Engr, Chibike Uzo maintained that ‘’road infrastructure was a necessary factor for the unity of our geographically vast and culturally heterogeneous nation, Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary also assured Nigerians that his Ministry was committed to integrating and developing Nigerian roads infrastructure through the completion of projects with positive impact capable of providing more conducive environment for local and foreign investments.
This was contained in a statement signed by Stephen Kilebi
Deputy Director (Press and Public Relations)said Bukar expressed immeasurable gratitude to the Government and good people of Cross River State, especially, the Governor,Prof, Ben. Ayade for providing the conducive environment for stakeholders in the Works Sector to deliberate on the myriad of infrastructure challenges in Nigeria.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Works, Dr. ( Mrs) Ihort Achu, commended the Directors from various MDAs for patiently brainstorming on issues of roads infrastructure which according to her were crucial to the economic development of Cross River State in particular and Nigeria in general.