The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has berated David Umahi, Minister of Works, over the deplorable state of roads across the country.
During an interactive session on Thursday, Remi Oseni, chairman of the committee, can be seen in a now viral video berating Mr Umahi for prioritising new roads above existing deplorable roads that need fixing.
“You are not here to tell us what we already know in the area of resources,” a visibly upset Mr Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said.
“Don’t discuss resources. All the roads that we have across the country have failed. If you are addressing the existing roads with the resources that you have, Hon minister, we will not be where we are. Don’t discuss resources,” the lawmaker had said.
“So, if you are telling us the reason you have failed in fixing our road infrastructure is because of resources – don’t let me take you up on that because you concentrated your energy as a minister on less priority issues,” Mr Oseni added.
Mr Umahi, while ddressing the committee, attributed the deplorable state of roads across the country to lack of resources.
The committee chairman, however, disagreed with the minister, saying, “Last year, you got N300 billion supplementary budget approval. Don’t raise my emotions. I am worried that you are not concerned about fixing Nigerian roads.
“We don’t want you to be awarding roads that you are not ready to do. How can you be telling us that there are no resources? With what everybody (lawmakers) has said, it is a clue that you have no plan for us as a nation,” the lawmaker added.
Mr Umahi has remained laser-focused on the construction of new roads including the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, estimated to cost N15 trillion, and the Sokoto-Badagry highway.
