Only about 46.23 per cent of the total budget of 2014 for the Federal Ministry of Works has been released from the federation account, out-going Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abubakar Muhammed, disclosed on Thursday.
He also said the overhead cost so far released was about 58.7per cent.
Muhammed disclosed this at the handover ceremony to the in-coming Permanent Secretary, Daudu Kigbu.
According to him, in the 2014 budget, the ministry had a capital allocation of about N98.8 billion, and that the total overhead allocation was N436 million.
“But, we are into the fourth quarter now, the capital released so far for the first, second and third quarters is a total of N45.6 billion, which is the capital released, and that translates to about 46.23per cent of the total amount of the year.
“This is the fourth quarter, so we are talking about 46.23 per cent of the released. So, you can see even from there, the performance of the ministry. It may also please you to note that the ministry received a monthly allocation overhead cost of N26 millio only.
“Currently, there are 183 ongoing highway projects and this amount to N1.47trn, these projects are spread in all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. There are 61 numbers of completed road projects, some of them are awaiting commissioning,” Muhammed noted.
He explained that works on about 83 federal highway roads were ongoing, adding that the ministry has equally benefited from the Sure-P funding in completing Abuja-Lokoja Expressway and Loco Aweto Bridge along Nasarawa State Road.
He, therefore, advised the incoming Permanent Secretary to collaborate with the directors of the ministry to forge ahead, even as he solicited support of the staff to sustain the ongoing reforms of government in the road sector.
On his part, Kigbu assured the directors of his willingness to work with them closely to record more success in the road sector.
