Nigerian Roads Cause For Serious Concern — Lawmaker

Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Toby Okechukwu has raised alarm over the road situation in the country, dubbing it a cause for “serious concern.”

He made the assertion while delivering a new year message, stating that the country needed a new approach to the maintenance of roads.

He said, “Finding lasting solutions to the poor state of Nigerian roads should take pre-eminence in 2020 because Nigerians deserve good roads to meet their socio-economic needs. Therefore, the House of Representatives passed the National Roads Fund Bill and Federal Roads Bill as permanent solutions to the poor road infrastructure.

“While the National Road Fund Bill will establish a National Roads Fund to provide predictable and sustainable funding for road maintenance in order to promote the sustainable development and management of the nation’s road network, the Federal Roads Bill will establish an agency to govern and manage the nation’s federal roads network.

“Although both bills did not receive presidential assent in the 8th National Assembly, we reintroduced and passed them in the current House of Representatives, just before the Christmas break, as they remain the real panacea to our road challenges.

“In doing so, we addressed the concerns raised by the President in the 8th NASS. So, it is our hope that the Presidency will partner the National Assembly to ensure that the Bills are passed and signed into law this time to change the face of our roads and boost socio-economic development in the country.”