NIGERIA'S ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE: UMAHI HARPS ON PPP TO BRIDGE GAP ON FINANCING ..... Meets Dangote, Elumelu, Gov Agbu Kefas

Umahi, Dangote, Elumelu and Gov. Kefas of Taraba state @ the Works Ministry Headquarters, Abuja

"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 Honourable Minister of Works to invest in the over 35,000 Km of the national road network."  Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser Media to Senator Umahi

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Nweze Umahi in his determination to achieve a sustainable road infrastructural sector in the country, has continued engagement with concessionaires and other private sector organizations on the need for private sector investment on nigeria's road infrastructure as it done in advanced economies of the world. 

This is in line with the road infrastructural initiatives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's adminisitration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

A statement from Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, the Special Adviser on Media to the Honourable Minister of Works on Wednesday 24 January 2024, disclosed that the Minister had in audience, at the Ministry's headquarters, Mabuishi, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the founder and CEO of Dangote Group of Conglomerates, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON and Honourable Ndudi Elumelu, former member of the Federal House of Representatives.

The meeting was a closed door session.

It would be recalled that the Honourable 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). 

"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." Orji stated.

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, just like his counterpart and Chairman of Heirs Holdings who is also one of Africa's leading investor who have 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 infrastructural development. 

"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 Honourable 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." The statement by Orji Uchenna Orji concluded.