The house of representatives committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has reprimanded the minister of works, David Umahi for the deplorable state of roads across the country.
The chairman of the committee, Remi Oseni, during an interactive session on Thursday, claimed that the minister is getting his priorities wrong.
But whilst addressing the committee, Umahi ascribed the deplorable state of roads to paucity of resources.
The committee chairman disagreed with the Umahi, stating that funding is not the challenge.
“You are not here to tell us what we already know in the area of resources,” Oseni 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.
“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.
“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 are not here for business of whether you want to do the job or you don’t want to do the job. Stop telling us you are awarding road contracts.
“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 minister has remained laser-focused on the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, a project that is estimated to cost N15 trillion.