Revolutionizing road infrastructure: Umahi meets Kefas, Dangote, Elumelu on road projects financing

…As FG mulls PPP initiative to bridge gap in road funding

By Chris Ochayi

As part of efforts to revolutionize road infrastructure, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has commenced discussions with concessionaires and other organizations in order to woo private sector investment in the road sector.

To this end, Engr. Umahi on Wednesday met in closed doors with Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the founder and CEO of Dangote Group of Conglomerates, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, former Minority Leader, Federal House of Representatives.

The parley, according to the Minister’s Special Adviser, Media,
Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji was in line with the road infrastructure initiatives of the Renewed Hope administration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Hon. Orji recalled that the Hon. Minister of Works in his zeal to change the ugly narrative of road infrastructure in Nigeria had set up three committees to work on the contracts executed by some concessionaires with the Federal Ministry of Works with a view to reviewing the scope and cost implications of the projects they undertook to execute under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

According to him, “This private sector initiative will fastrack road infrastructure revolution and bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of Federal Highways.

“The Governor of Taraba who retired as a military professional was a one-time chairman Governing Board of Directors Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) before he became Governor.

“The founder and CEO Dangote Group is one of Africa’s foremost captains of industry who have made ambitious investments in the development of infrastructure in Nigeria and he has shown manifest commitment in the transformation of Nigeria’s infrastructure through long- term investment in strategic sectors of Nigeria’s economy, including financial services, and infrastructure development.

“Hon Ndudi G. Elumelu is a well-travelled politician and contemporary public administrator, and also a product of Harvard Business School, Boston.

“It is hoped that investors, local and international, and other organized bodies would take advantage of the will power of the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration and the private sector experience and professional capacities of the Hon. Minister of Works to invest in the over 35,000 Km of the national road network being managed by Federal Government of Nigeria as this road network carries more than 70% of the vehicular traffic, making it a critical infrastructure for the movement of goods and services across the nation.

“This initiative will trigger economic development, job creation, local content development and wealth creation for Nigerian population. Mr. President mean business with his efforts to prosper our country and make it the pride of the African continent. Your support is critical.”