Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, says the
country does not need new roads projects.
The minister spoke on Wednesday when he appeared before a
house of representatives committee on works to defend the ministry’s budget.
Fashola said instead of awarding new road projects, the
“limited resources” should be applied to completing abandoned and uncompleted
projects.
“The number of projects are increasing and all of us must
find a way to come to a consensus, because our revenue is not increasing at the
same exponential rate,” he said.
“What we are seeing
every year is that we appropriate for a very token amount for a project of
certain quantum. Now, once the award is done, the question of financing becomes
a challenge.
“With the inflation and everything, there must come a time
and I think that time is now; Mr chairman and honourable members, enough of new
roads and new projects.
“Let us concentrate our limited resources to complete or
progress some of what we have started. In finding the solution, I will be
happy. There are a couple of roads in Osun and we cannot finish all of them in
one budget cycle.
“If the
parliamentarians from each state can come together and say, this is on priority
project for us and decide that let us move our zonal intervention project — and
say this is what we want to achieve — this is an honest conversation we must
have.”
The minister also said the government must increase its
revenue generation to reduce borrowing, adding that such loans have become a
matter of concern in the public space.
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