ABUJA – The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, on Friday said the ministry was awaiting approval from the Federal Government on two draft bills for road sector reforms.
Onolememen said this in Abuja when he presented the ministry’s scorecard at its 2014 Ministerial Press Briefing.
He said the bills, if approved would strengthen the ongoing road sector reforms in the country.
The minister said that the ministry had submitted the draft bills to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval before their presentation to the National Assembly.
Onolememen said that the two road sector reform bills currently undergoing review by FEC were the Federal Road Authority Bill and the National Road Fund Bill.
He said that if the two draft bills were eventually passed by the National Assembly, the road sector in Nigeria would attract private investors for sustained development of roads in the country.
“We cannot sustain any development in the road sector unless we align the process to secure funding from multiple sources because government alone cannot truly fund road development.
“The two bills on approval will thereafter be transmitted to the National Assembly for further consideration and enactment into law.
“When this happens, the road sector in Nigeria will not only attract both foreign and local investors, it will also take on the togs of sustainability in road development in the country.”
The minister expressed concern over the increasing level of abuse of road infrastructure.
He said that the ministry was in the process of establishing a Road Asset Management System (RAMS) with assistance from the World Bank.
Onolememen said that the proposed RAMS would provide a database on the federal highways to enable the ministry check road abuses to achieve improved performance, longevity and value for money. [eap_ad_1] He said that some of the road abuses include axle load of trucks beyond acceptable tonnage, indiscriminate digging across the highways, and illegal erection of bumps on roads and destruction of road furniture.
Onolememen said that the ministry would soon commence enforcement of the recently approve ECOWAS Common Standards on Size, Dimension, Weight and Axle loads of goods vehicles and trucks.
“To this effect, the ministry is in the process of rolling out a Right of Way Management and Enforcement Template that will guarantee the longevity of federal roads nationwide,” he said.
The minister said that the various mechanisms being deployed were proof of the government’s commitment to make roads not only better and safer but also comparable to roads in developed countries.
He said that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration had shown a clear understanding of the positive connection between good roads and economic growth. (NAN)
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