Reps Passes NDDC N250bn Budget For 2012

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the 2012? budget of N250 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).??

The breakdown of the budget revealed that N17 billion was approved for recurrent expenditure, while capital expenditure got N233 billion.?

Earlier, Rep. Nicholas Mutu (PDP-Delta), the Chairman, House Committee on NDDC, said that if approved, the budget would enhance the operations of the commission.?

Meanwhile, the House has urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to complete the rehabilitation of the Zaria- Soba-Pambegwa-Jos Road to pave way for smooth transportation.

The resolution followed a motion by Rep. Ibrahim Mustapha (CPC-Kaduna), which was unanimously adopted without debate.?

Mustapha said that the road remained the major route of transportation for agricultural and essential goods in the area.?

He noted that since the road was constructed in 1976, it had never gone through any maintenance or rehabilitation in spite of its daily heavy traffic.?

The legislator said that an attempt to rehabilitate the road by FERMA was abandoned after the agency dug pot holes on it.?

“The dugout portions have further worsened the state of the road, thereby causing accidents, daily loss of lives and property,” he observed.?

He added that armed robbers had continued to carryout operations on a daily basis due to the deteriorating nature of the road. ?

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