Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday, said that Nigerian roads are not as bad as they are made to look.
Speaking with state house correspondents after the federal executive council meeting, Mr Fashola said funding is the major challenge impeding the completion of road projects across the country.
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“The roads are not as bad as they are often portrayed. I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad,” he said.
“When I come here to announce that a particular amount was approved for a contract that doesn’t mean the amount has been paid contrary to what you suggest.
“You are mindful also that minister of finance, different arms of government are escalating the fiscal challenges we face as a nation in trying to fund the budget.
“You are also mindful that the last few budgets in Nigeria for almost 20 years have been deficit budgets and these are terminologies that are realities and I think we should acquaint ourselves with if we are not just to report the news but also educate the public.”
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The minister further said that road construction projects would be continued when the rains are over.
“So what we experienced in this year is unusual, it’s not a good time to be in the transport system. We also want this season to quickly end so that we can go back to work during the dry weather,” he said.
