Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has revealed that Nigeria requires N18 trillion to address its road infrastructure challenges.
Speaking to reporters after defending the ministry’s 2025 budget estimates before the Senate Committee on Works, Umahi emphasized that the annual budget provisions from the National Assembly are insufficient to meet the country’s infrastructural needs.
He explained that in 2023, President Bola Tinubu inherited 2,064 road projects valued at N13 trillion. However, given current market conditions, this amount should now be closer to N18 trillion. Umahi noted that despite the challenges, the President, with his economic experience, is working to secure loans for the projects, despite public concerns about borrowing.
Umahi stressed the importance of fixing the nation’s roads, stating that such infrastructure would serve as a catalyst for economic growth, create jobs, and help combat hunger by spurring economic activities across various sectors.
Senator Mpigi Barinada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, also acknowledged the significant funding required to address Nigeria’s road infrastructure deficits.
