By The federal government’s request for an additional N6.2 trillion to the 2024 N28.7 trillion budget has come under scrutiny. During a session with the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, chaired by Hon. Abubakar Bichi (APC, Kano), the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, defended the request, citing the need for funding critical infrastructure projects and the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Hon. Bichi questioned the specifics behind the proposed adjustment of N3.2 trillion in capital expenditure and N3 trillion in recurrent expenditure. He emphasized the necessity for transparency and clarity regarding this significant budget increase.
In response, Minister Bagudu outlined key projects included in the proposed budget:
- Lagos-Calabar Road Project: A 1,000-kilometre road project requiring N150 billion, with work commencing in Lagos, Calabar, and an additional section, Sokoto-Calabar, covering the five South East states and the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail lines.
- Sokoto-Badagry Road Projects
- Rail Projects: Includes counterpart funding for rail projects stalled over the past year, with the Chinese government covering 85 percent of the costs. Key projects include:
- Port Harcourt Main Bridge, spanning multiple states
- Badagry-Tin Can Port and Lekki Port
- Lagos-Ibadan and Kano-Marada Standard Gauge rail lines
- An additional N530 billion requested for rolling stock
Bagudu asserted that the proposed budget is essential for advancing and completing these critical infrastructure projects, which are vital for the nation’s economic growth and development.
