MINISTER OF STATE FOR BUDGET AND PLANING SAYS FG IS WORKING ON 377 ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Mr Agba Ikanade, The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, yesterday, disclosed that the Federal Government is currently working on 377 roads in 266 rural communities across the country.

Agba disclosed this during the inspection of work on the 7.5 km Nsukka-Lejja-Igbo-Etiti Road in Enugu State.

The minister said the Federal Government had approved a total sum of N34b for projects, which were part of its Economic Sustainability Plan against the extreme impact of the Coronavirus.

Agba said the Federal Government also released N60b to the Federal Roads Management Agency (FERMA) for the rehabilitation of failed portions of major highways across the country.According to him, the country witnessed a shortfall in staple food supply during the pandemic, which invariably was responsible for increase in food prices.

He said it was totally unacceptable that farmers in the rural areas were recording 50 to 60 per cent post-harvest losses, due to the bad roads.

According to Agba, the essence of the visit was to assess the extent of work so as to make plans for the release of more money for the projects.

The traditional ruler of Lejja Community, Igwe Anthony Ochike, described the intervention as a big relief.

Ochike said earlier appeals by the community for the construction of the road failed.
The traditional ruler commended the Federal Government for the award of the contract and appealed that the remaining 4km that would take the road to Nsukka be awarded too.