The Federal Government has been urged to prioritise timely funding of road infrastructure projects to sustain economic growth, improve connectivity and accelerate national development.
The call was made on Thursday by the retiring Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation at the Federal Ministry of Works, Clement Ogbuagu, during a valedictory ceremony held in his honour at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “I want the Federal Government to pay more attention to the road sector because it’s the road sector that grows the Gross Domestic Product of any nation because without roads, nothing can be; everything will go down.
“It’s with roads that you can be able to do a lot of things. The Federal Government should pay more attention and release funds when appropriate for the road sector to continue to thrive.”
His comments follow recent findings by PUNCH Online from the Open Treasury Portal that the government released about N2.68tn (barely 5 per cent) for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads and bridges across the country between 2023 and April 2026.
The analysis, however, revealed a significant disparity between approved budgets and actual releases, with the government making provisions totalling N54.93tn for road-related projects within the period under review, highlighting low release of funds for ongoing projects.
Ogbuagu, who bowed out after the mandatory number of service years, said investment in roads remains one of the strongest drivers of economic growth, stressing that no economy can thrive without an efficient road network.
He also urged the government to sustain ongoing reforms in the civil service, particularly the digital transformation programme, while encouraging serving officers to remain diligent, disciplined and committed to the ethics of public service.
Reflecting on his career, Ogbuagu thanked God and the Federal Government for the opportunity to serve the country, saying his years in service enabled him to interact with Nigerians from virtually every ethnic group and region, thereby deepening his appreciation of the country’s diversity.
The retiring director commended the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for introducing innovations and modern technologies into the road sector, particularly the increasing use of concrete pavement technology, which he said had significantly improved the durability and quality of federal roads.
Addressing his colleagues who remain in service, Ogbuagu urged them to preserve the values of integrity, accountability and professionalism that define the Federal Civil Service.
He advised public servants to remain faithful to civil service rules throughout their careers to ensure they retire honourably without facing disciplinary or legal challenges.
Ogbuagu also applauded the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, saying the reforms were already transforming public administration through digitalisation.
According to him, ministries, departments and agencies are steadily moving away from paper-based processes, a development he described as critical to improving efficiency and service delivery.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goronyo, described the retiring director as an exceptional public servant whose professionalism, humility and positive attitude would be greatly missed by the ministry.
He said Ogbuagu had earned the admiration and respect of colleagues through his unwavering commitment to duty and his calm disposition, even under pressure.
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