Politics

Nigeria: Legislature raises Ministry of Works budget by 56.7%

Published

11 months ago

January 17, 2024

Nigeria’s National Assembly increased the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Works by 56.7% from N657.3 billion in the proposed budget to N1.03 trillion.

This is an increase of N373 billion over the amount originally stated in the appropriations bill. In comparison to the amount authorised in the 2023 budget, it also signifies a 65.4% increase.

More than 33,000 km of federal government highways nationwide are under the ministry’s care and upkeep. According to a copy of the approved budget, the rise resulted from a capital budget increase from N617.9 billion to N987.3 billion.

The document stated that N94.83 billion had been approved for the construction of the Lafia road, the dualization of the 9th Mile (Enugu) Otukpo-Makurdi (Keffi Phase Ii) road project, N15 billion for the construction of the Ota-Idiroko road, N4 billion for the construction of the Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti road, and N13.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Enugu-Port Harcourt road, sections two and four.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, requested during the budget defence that the National Assembly raise the ministry’s 2024 budget to around N1.5 trillion in order to allow it to finish building at least ten strategically important roads and bridges in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

In a meeting last week, Umahi assigned contractors the task of finishing 150 km of roads across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by the year 2024.

“Can we have about 150km of road completed in 2024 in each state? What does that mean? If we have five contractors working together in the same state, then 150km divided by five is 30km, so it’s achievable.

“Nigerians will want to see if we can complete 150km in each of the 36 states and the FCT, and you will see the total number of roads completed, and that will be a good way to start,” he said.

Nigeria has had a slight improvement in infrastructure development over the course of five years (2016–2020), albeit slowly, in a few key areas, including transportation, power, ICT, water, and sanitation. Even with clear progress, the nation still lags behind 23 African nations.

Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, which represents 30% of its GDP, is below the global standard of 70% established by the World Bank, according to the United States Department of Commerce’s International Trade Office.

Related Topics:David Umahi Featured Ministry of Works Nigeria

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

16 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

16 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.