The Nigerian Federal Government has committed to ensuring that all current road projects will be completed, regardless of whether they were inherited from previous administrations or are newly initiated.

This assurance was provided by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, during an interactive session held over the weekend in Abuja. The session was with the Senate Committee on Appropriations, led by Senator Solomon Ademola (APC Ogun West).

At the meeting, Bagudu discussed the National Assembly’s recent approval of a supplementary appropriation of N6.2 trillion for the 2024 budget, a request made by President Bola Tinubu.

This supplementary funding aims to address ongoing infrastructural needs and ensure that none of the road projects will be left unfinished.

Addressing concerns from committee members about the status of various deplorable roads and incomplete projects in their constituencies, Bagudu assured them that the Federal Government remains committed to completing all ongoing roadworks.

He emphasized that the government is not prioritizing innovative projects at the expense of existing road projects. Instead, he reassured that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will continue to review and approve financial resources for road projects as funds become available.

While Bagudu did not provide a detailed breakdown of the supplementary appropriation, he did offer a sectoral overview. This includes the allocation of N3.2 trillion to the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Projects and an additional N3 trillion increase in the recurrent budget component.

Bagudu acknowledged that previous under-investment in infrastructure had been a significant issue, impacting the country’s development. He praised President Tinubu for his decisive action to address this deficit by securing funding for major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, the Sokoto-Badagry highway, and the Trans-Sahara highway.

These projects are expected to boost economic activities and enhance the nation’s revenue, leading to substantial economic transformation and improvements in the country’s infrastructure.

Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, expressed confidence in the government’s ability to finance the 2024 budget.

He requested that the minister provide a detailed breakdown of the N6.2 trillion approval to the committee as soon as possible to ensure transparency and effective oversight.