Minister of Works, David Umahi, continued the Federal Government’s pursuit of alternative funding for federal roads in a meeting held yesterday.
The government aims to involve governors and private sector leaders to address the deteriorating road network across the country.
Umahi convened with Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, Dangote Group Chairman/Chief Executive Aliko Dangote, and Heirs Holdings founder Tony Elumelu in Abuja to strengthen public-private partnership and explore alternative funding methods for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of federal highways through the Public Private Partnership.
According to a statement by the minister’s media adviser, Uchenna Orji, “The meeting was in line with the road infrastructure initiatives of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Umahi, committed to changing the narrative of road infrastructure in Nigeria, has set up three committees to review contracts executed by concessionaires with the Federal Ministry of Works under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).
Orji’s statement highlighted, “This private sector initiative will fast-track road infrastructure revolution and bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of federal highways.”
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, a retired military professional and former chairman of the Governing Board of Directors of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), participated in the meeting. The founder and CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and the founder/chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, were also present.
Orji expressed hope that both local and international investors would leverage the commitment of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration and the minister’s private sector experience to invest in the over 35,000 Km national road network managed by the Federal Government.
He emphasized, “This initiative will trigger economic development, job creation, local content development, and wealth creation for the Nigerian population. Mr. President means business with his efforts to prosper our country and make it the pride of the African continent. Your support is critical.”
