The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has made a case for adequate funding of Federal Ministry of Works to be able to tackle dilapidated road infrastructure adorning every parts of the country.
He also lauded the appointment of the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi state, Engr Dave Umahi, as new Nigerian Minister of Works by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Isiguzoro, who was also a former Ohanaeze youth leader, bared his minds in a statement forwarded to AFRIPOST on Wednesday.
While calling for adequate funding for the Federal Ministry of Works, the Igbo stalwart appealed to the President to ensure immediate release of funds to the ministry, so as to enable works ministry to achieve its set objectives, and its plan to embark on execution of massive road construction and rehabilitation during the coming dry season in all geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
According to him, “We’re aware of the fact that most federal ministers presently face paucity of funds since their predecessors left virtually nothing behind from 2023 budget passed under former which was earlier sent to national assembly by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Infrastructural development is key driver of economic growth due to its multiplier effect across all sectors of Nigeria society, especially towards cushioning the harsh effects of recent removal of oil subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
“Instead of waiting till a supplementary is passed, the Ministry of Works can be immediately funded through other sources. The federal ministry should be adequately funded, to be able to carry out her statutory duties expected and yearned by Nigerian people from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)”, Isiguzoro added.
He further applauded Umahi’s sterling leadership qualities and giant developmental strides recorded in Ebonyi as then governor of the state, confiding, the latter would replicate same developmental gains in every facets of the country now he’s entrusted with national assignments, which among the rest, including overseeing affairs of federal ministry of works, and most significantly, embarking construction of new roads, and rehabilitation of several decayed social infrastructures scattering in many parts of the federation.
Isiguzoro described the appointment of former Ebonyi Governor, as a square peg in a square hole, having demonstrated uncommon capacities in administrative and public leaderships in past years as governor of a state, and recently, as elected Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, before his nomination and confirmation by President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of Nigerian senate respectively.
“On assumption of office, and also in realizing the fact that Nigerians are impatient to feel positive impact of his principal’s Fresh Hope Agenda, Umahi swung into action and traversed all the six geopolitical zones of this great country, Nigeria, to carry out on-the-spot assessment and field evaluation of federal roads infrastructure. From South west, he moved to the north-central zone, and then, the south East.
