By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has set up six committees for review of the road projects’ variations and N1.5bn unpaid debts.
This was contained in a statement issued and signed in Abuja by the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Barrister Uchenna Orji.
According to the statement the minister held with the directors from the ministry ahead of the 2024 budget defence.
The committees assigned to the geopolitical zones were tasked to examine all outstanding certified certificates’ debts generated both before and after May 29th, 2023.
Umahi reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to road infrastructure development in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The minister noted that the road sector needed a different kind of attention beyond the 2024 budget envelope received by the Ministry.
He thanked President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the attention given to the ministry and his approval of concrete pavement in most of the 2024 projects.
The minister stated that his ministry is committed to the development of road infrastructure in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President.
Umahi also noted the huge debts arising from unpaid certificates inherited from the past administration, which run up to N1.5 trillion up to date, and the expected contract reviews arising from inflation.
He said the two factors must be confronted to move forward.
“The minister has, therefore, set up six committees of one committee per geopolitical zone to review all debts of unpaid certified certificates generated before May 29th, 2023, and from May 29th, 2023 to date.
“The committees will also review the approved and unapproved variation of prices and all augmentations that were approved or are yet to be approved and make recommendations to the Ministry’s management.
“The Ministry has exposed these debts and all reviews in the Ministry to Mr. President’s economic team and also to the Federal Executive Committee on road sector funding.”
