Our Roads Are Death Traps – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari


President Muhammadu Buhari has said that most roads in the country are death traps owing to the long period of neglect.The President at a banquet he hosted in honour of the Senators in the Presidential Villa yesterday admitted that the nation’s roads are in precarious state and are in dire need of attention by the Federal Government.

This is just as he a made case for the immediate development of infrastructures such as rail and power.

“The roads are dead. Those who drive between Lagos and Ibadan will have a lot of stories to tell you. Those who drive from Kaduna to Jebba may have more stories to tell. The same thing is applicable to the East-West roads,” the President said.

He urged the Senate to assist his government in concentrating on the problem of infrastructures such as rail, road and power.
He asked Senate Committees to look at the various agreements the nation had entered into in the last six years and see where Nigeria is defaulting in in terms of counterpart fundings.

He observed that if the nation could get the railway working, lives and fuel would be saved.

The President also touched on the nation’s economy, saying the drop in the price of oil was affecting it negatively.
While thanking the Senate for the speed at which his ministerial nominees were approved, he urged them to treat the nation’s budget with the same sense of urgency.

“We are enjoying tremendous goodwill outside this country. Whatever we do, let us have it in mind that people have confidence in this government,” the President admonished.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, thanked the President on behalf of his colleagues and pledged their continuous support for the government.

While admitting that the challenges ahead are enormous, Saraki said he believed that when God gives man a position, He would also equip him with the capacity to carry out the task.

In treating national issues, he promised that the Senate under his watch would not be sentimental.

“Petrol does not know APC or PDP. We will always work hard in the interest of the country in everything we do,” Saraki promised.

Journalists were later excused as the President engaged the lawmakers in an interactive session behind-closed-doors.

The dinner was also attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; top government officials and presidential aides.