Minister Of Works Dave Umahi And Infrastructure Projects 

UCHE DIALA

While on inspection of the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway with the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, the Honorable Minister for Works, Engr. Dave Umahi declared that no project under the present administration should last more than two years.

In his words: “We cannot have all the projects going on at the same time. If we have 100km of road, let us face it. For me, no project should run beyond two years so we can make adequate funding of the phase in the first two years of our budgeting.”

First, I agree with the honourable minister that “we can not have all the projects going on at the same time”. However the level of rot and urgency of our infrastructural needs demand that we be engaged on multiple fronts at the same time. We must find a way to do that.

Again, I wonder if the two years that the Minister stated include project conception, design, planning, EIA etc? Or is it just actual construction? So that no one would be misled into thinking that it is that easy or settled.

As an Engineer, the Honorable Minister knows that project duration depends on a number of factors including project scope, nature, terrain etc.

Indeed one should also consider factors and exigencies like availability of funding, dispute settlement, compensation issues, weather or seasonal dynamics etc.

For me, what is most important is that once all factors like the ones I listed are considered and the project duration (even in phases) determined, the project should be dilligently completed within that stated timeline, to standard and not abandoned, with consequences for failure.

I must add, that to a large extent the last administration succeeded in combating what I call the abandoned projects syndrome in Nigeria and delivered satisfactorily in the area of Infrastructure.

It paid deliberate attention to completing existing, ongoing and or abandoned projects and did not start new ones except it was absolutely neccesary.

It also tried to tie specific projects to funding and did not start a new project without defining and securing the source of funding in most cases.

In addition, it found creative and innovative ways to fund infrastructure projects outside budgetary allocation including the SUKUK Bond initiative, Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme and the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp).

These are innovations that we should double down and build upon in addition to greater supervision, monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance. We neither have the luxury of time nor an inexhaustible reservoir of patience.

I wish the Minister and all of us goodluck because infrastructure aside making life easier for the citizens, helps to build the economy.

©️ Uche Diala