By Ajiri Daniels
Senator Seriake Dickson has called on the Federal Government to make budgetary provision and to expedite action on the completion of the East-West Road project to ease vehicular movement and reduce carnage on the road.
The Bayelsa West Senator made his position known yesterday at the National Assembly when the Senate Committee on Appropriation under the chairmanship of Senator Olamilekan Adeola, met with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The minister was invited to provide insight into the ₦6.2tn supplementary appropriation approval for the 2024 budget by the National Assembly as requested by President Bola Tinubu.
Bagudu while giving a sectoral overview of the supplementary appropriation, noted that ₦3.2tn was for Renewed Hope Infrastructure Projects, while ₦3tn was meant for the recurrent component of the budget, including the new minimum wage expenditure.
He further disclosed that President Tinubu was seeking the ₦3.2tn to fund projects under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure, which include the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway, the Sokoto – Badagry highway and the Trans- Sahara highway.
Following the breakdown of the Minister’s report, Senator Dickson queried why the supplementary appropriation did not make provision for the East-West Road which serves as a major gateway to coastal states.
Lamenting the deplorable condition of the road, Senator Dickson implored the Minister to ensure the appropriation report also reflects the state of abandonment of the East-West Road which was awarded over 20 years ago, as well as budgetary provision to see to its completion.
His words: “We have concerns about the East-West Road. When you mentioned projects under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure fund, I didn’t hear you talk about the East-West Road. As you very well know, the East-West Road started over 20 years ago and even before the Coastal Road, as important as it is, we have had the East-West Road on the front burner abandoned for different reasons. So, I was asking if, we shouldn’t in this Renewed Hope Infrastructure fund, make provisions for it so that the hope of our people can also be renewed.
“It was very embarrassing last week when we went to Port Harcourt for the Niger Delta Summit and we found out that, for 5 hours people couldn’t get from Bayelsa to Port Harcourt, including governors who were coming. I think this should be drawn to Mr. President’s attention so that it can be accommodated.”
The Minister while trying to douse the agitation of members of the committee on the fate of other deplorable roads, and uncompleted road projects in their various constituencies, said the federal government has not abandoned any of the ongoing projects.
He assured that the Federal Executive Council will continue to consider and give financial approval to other roads as funds are available.