Ministry of Works to Receive N400bn, FCT N100bn

According to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, his ministry is set to receive approximately N400bn in the 2023 supplementary budget.

Furthermore, the Ministries of Agriculture, Housing, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will each receive N100bn from the budget.

Umahi, along with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Housing Minister Ahmed Dangiwa, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, and other Service Chiefs, recently appeared before the Senate committee on appropriations to justify the N2.1tn 2023 supplementary budget.

The ministers defended the supplementary budget earlier in the week before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Adeola Olamilekan, representing Ogun West.

In his address to the committee, Dangiwa defended the N100 billion allocated to the Ministry of Housing in the supplementary budget, stating that the funds would be allocated to constructing housing estates nationwide.

He further explained that the Federal Government plans to build 1,000 housing units in each state, with state governors being contacted to provide 50 hectares of land for the construction of these estates.

Additionally, another 2,000 housing units will be constructed in urban areas of each geopolitical zone. Dangiwa clarified that N50 billion would be used to initiate construction of the housing estates, while the remaining N50 billion would be allocated to developing slums across the country.

During his presentation, Wike defended the N100bn allocated in the supplementary budget for the Federal Capital Territory.

Out of the N100bn, N22bn has been earmarked for the completion of the metro rail.

When addressing the issue of insecurity, Wike noted that there has been an improvement in the security situation within the three months since he assumed office.

He reassured the committee that all abandoned buildings in Abuja would be demolished, as they have become hiding places for criminals.

“We will bulldoze all abandoned buildings in the FCT and take over the properties because we have identified them as criminal hideouts.

“Criminals use these buildings as refuge after committing crimes. I am confident that things will change for the better.”

Wike expressed optimism that the security situation will continue to improve.