Federal Government has been advised to prioritize the completion of railway line projects across the country in order to reduce the cost of transportation.
A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, who gave the advice in Kaduna, expressed concern over reports that these projects had been delayed in favour of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Alhaji Umaru Dembo emphasized that the nation’s transportation system requires urgent attention to support the socio-economic development expected in a democratic setting.
He expressed dismay over the alleged non-remittance of the five percent fuel user charge meant for the development of road infrastructure and suggested a proper, high-level investigation to recover the funds, in order to enable the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency FERMA to effectively discharge its responsibilities.
The former Minister also stressed the need for the National Assembly to properly monitor public expenditure in line with budgetary provisions, as part of broader measures to address corruption, described as the major cause of the underdevelopment witnessed over the years.
SULEIMAN KAURA
