The South-West geo-political zone has got the largest share of N88.7 billion for major projects in the 2016 proposed budget for the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, a Daily Trust analysis has revealed.

The ministry has N433.4 billion total sum for the capital projects of the ministry and some agencies under it.

The main ministry’s capital budget is N334.3 billion, NREA N15.3 billion, TCN N50 billion and FERMA N25 billion.

Other agencies are Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL), N19 billion; National Power Training Institute, N1.8 billion and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited, N2 billion.

The North-West has the second largest allocation of N30.1 billion; North-Central, N29 billion; South-South, N22.5 billion; South-East was allocated N2.9 billion; North-East has N9.4 billion.

The analysis showed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja brought up the rear with N926.7 million of the total sum.

The analysis showed that a total of 10 projects will be executed in the South-West by the ministry, the National Rural Electricity Agency (NREA) 10; the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) 7; and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) 13.

A total of 44 projects has been earmarked for the North West. The ministry would execute 5, NREA 8, TCN 13 and FERMA 18, while a total of 40 projects will be done in the North-Central.

Similarly, the North-East will have a total of 20 projects; South-South and South-East will have 29 and 23 respectively and the FCT, seven.

Some of the major projects to be executed in the South-west are rehabilitation of Lagos-Ibadan Road N50 billion; Apapa-Oshodi-Oworoshoki Road N5 billion; pavement strengthening and asphalt overlay of Ajebandele-Benin-Shagamu Road in Ogun State N6.5 billion; construction of Apakun-Murtala Muhammed International Airport road in Lagos State N5 billion.

In the North-West, major projects include construction of 2x60MVA connection of Gurara to national grid N1.442 billion; construction of Kaduna eastern bypass, Kano western bypass and dualizstion of Kano-Katsina road N3 billion; 2nd Kaduna-Kano 33KV DC line N1.7 billion; completion of on-going electrification projects in Katsina State N383 million; and rehabilitation of existing/completion of rural electrification scheme in 9 communities in Kaduna State N306 million.

In the North-Central, the major projects are rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani road N6 billion; completion of ongoing construction of prototype housing scheme Suleja N800 million; rehabilitation of Mokwa-Bida Road in Niger State N774.6 million; electricity improvement in Langtang North and Langtang South in Plateau N37 million; up-grading and rehabilitation of headquarters building in Minna Niger State(HYPADEC) N82 million; generation of 700 mw from Zungeru hydropower project N750 million.

In the North-East, major projects include rehabilitation of Hadejia-Nguru-Gashau Bamayari road, N4 billion; completion of on-going electrification projects in 5 communities in Adamawa State, N480 million; on-going rural electrification of 6 communities in Bauchi State N195.5 million; provision of 160KW solar mini-grid electrification of Jibu and Wukari LGA of Taraba State N65 million; rehabilitation of existing /completion of rural electrification scheme in 12 communities in Yobe State N349. 5 million; rehabilitation/completion of rural electrification scheme in 13 communities in Borno State N432.6 million and completion of 23 on-going electrification projects in Gombe State N80.6 million.

The major projects in the South-South are the rehabilitation of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom states N6 billion; construction and installation of 10km of 33KV line and associated 2x15MVA 33/11kv sub-station at Ibuzor, Delta State N360 million; bill of engineering measurement for 33kv overhead line single circuit line from glory power station to Federal University at Otuoke with 2x2.5MVA N257.5 million.

For the South-East, it showed that some important projects are concession of 2nd Niger Bridge in Anambra and Delta states, N17 million; completion of Enugu-Abakaliki Road in Enugu/Ebonyi states N29.3 million; completion of rural electrification in 6 Abia State communities N425 million; provision of 100KW solar mini-grid electrification of Obinaochia, Umudim, Umunneochi LGA of Abia State N65 million; rehabilitation/completion of rural electrification scheme in 5 communities of Anambra State N322.5 million; rural electrification of 15 communities in Enugu State N364 million and completion of the construction of area zonal office in Enugu State N44.4 million.

The projects to be executed in the FCT are construction of ongoing extension of federal ministry of lands, housing and urban development Mabushi, N93 million; completion of construction of ongoing rehabilitation of admin /classroom block at school of Architecture Technical, Kuje N286.5 million; provision of furnishings in the new extension of federal ministry of lands, housing and urban development, Mabushi, N125.9 million; completion of 3 communities on-going electrification projects in FCT N122.7 million; completion of on-going electrification projects in Kuchibuyi Sabon Gari, Bwari N40 million; additional work on rural electrification Sabon Gari Bwari-Kuchibuyi Byazhin in Bwari area council, N40 million and Katampe-National Stadium 132KV DC line, N124 million.

It was observed that a number of the projects cut-across several states, while there are also provisions in the capital votes for the purchase of some equipment by the ministry and the agencies, which were not reflected under any of the political zones.

Such projects include renovation of field offices in Kogi, Ondo, Abuja, Bayelsa, Benue, Nasarawa, Lagos, Osun, Zamfara, Abia, Ekiti, Gombe and Kwara N171 million; completion of provision of infrastructure (road & drains) for social housing at Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Keffi, Kwubor, Enugu State N540 million; construction of infrastructure, roads, drainages and asphalt finishing N430. 9 million; completion of the on-going construction of roads, drains and culverts N1.219 billion; and the construction of access roads & drainages linking and within the estate N582 million.

Under the Ministry of Transportation the South-East has the highest with seven projects amounting to N3.173bn.

The projects include the construction of terminal building in Enugu at 1.2 billion, upgrading of Akanu Ibiam airport runaway, Enugu at N1.087 billion, completion of APRON expansion at Owerri Airport at N273million and the construction of control tower and technical building at Enugu at N274.3million.

The South-West came second with 20 projects amounting to N2.6bn.The projects are at MMIA, Lagos Ibadan and Akure airports.

The South-South has seven projects worth N2.16 billion. The refurbishment of Port Harcourt airport was allocated N802m, Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar (Phase 2) N173m, completion of APRON expansion at Port Harcourt airport at N302 million and the upgrade and remodelling of same airport would gulp N821 million.

The review also showed that the North-West got 11 projects estimated to gulp N1.5bn for Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Katsina airport terminal and upgrading of terminal building at Kaduna and construction of bi-metal fence at Sokoto.

The North Central has eight of the projects worth N1.247bn.

The North-East has the least in term of capital project in the areas of Airport Repairs, Expansion and Construction. The three projects are the rehabilitation of Azare airstrip N41m, the upgrade, refurbishment of the Maiduguri airport terminal building at N79m and the maintenance of Potiskum airstrip at N68m.

The transport ministry also proposed to construct of railways at N90bn, waterways at N52bn and Aerodromes at N17.6bn. The breakdown and spread of these three projects were not on the budget estimate of the ministry.

However, a close look at the budget proposal of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture showed that the capital estimate of the ministry was a single line item, as its breakdown was not included.

The N47bn proposed for capital project in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture was shared between the ministry and 40 institutions under it.

Speaking, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume said: “The budget came with a serious lopsidedness in term of allocation especially in the ministry of works. We will balance it because a situation whereby you have more than half of the budget of a particular ministry going to one zone out of the six zones is not good. We are jointly working with the executive to look at the budget.”

Speaking when he appeared before the Senate committee on works, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said the Southwest got the largest share in the area of roads to enable the federal government complete the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

“These projects have been dragging for years. Give us the opportunity to change the way things are done before and hold us responsible at the end of day,” he said, assuring that other areas would be covered in due course. (Daily Trust)

•Photo shows Power, Works and Housing Ministry, Babatunde Fashola.

Update news