The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge linking the West to the East will get priority attention in next year’s budget, which will allocate more cash to infrastructure provision.
But tolling will likely be reintroduced on federal roads to generate cash for maintenance.
These are part of the government’s plan, which Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola unfolded yesterday.
He spoke at his maiden news conference in Abuja where he unveiled his short term plans to address housing deficit, provide good roads and increase power generation.
Fashola, the immediate past Lagos State governor, said the highest amount allocated to road construction in recent years was in 2002 when N200 billion was budgeted.
He said the Works sector this year has 206 contractors handling 206 projects, covering 6, 000 kilometres with a contract price of over N2trillion. Yet, a little over N18billion was budgeted.
The Minister said that work would soon begin on all roads that link the 36 states, adding that major roads which have been suspended due to lack of funds and are vital to boosting socio- economic activities would be quickly revisited.
Fashola spoke of plans to partner with the private sector and fully privatise the power sector for the country to witness genuine development like in the telecommunication sector.
Culled from www.thenationonlineng.net
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