The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, has blamed previous governments for the current deplorable state of many roads in the country. ?
Onolememen expressed the disgust at the Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies (AES) Excellence Club 3rd Annual CEO’s Dinner/Awards Night in Lagos on Friday.
The minister said the poor?state of the roads was inimical to the nation's development.
According to him, the development in America is due to the county’s success in the management of its roads.
He stressed the need for greater investments in the construction and maintenance of good road network to enhance the nation's economy.
“Attitudinal change in management and financing of roads in Nigeria is needed to enhance development in our country,” Onolememen said.
The minister said that investments in road infrastructure were needed to achieve the transformation agenda of the government for Nigeria to be among the top 20 economies of the world by 2020.
He said Nigeria's road infrastructure had to grow from the current 194,000 Km to about 300,000.
Onolememen, who received the Minister of the Year Award for his outstanding commitment to economic transformation of the nation, said the ministry was initiating policies to develop the country’s road infrastructure.
He commended members of the AES Excellence Club, who according to him, have made positive impact in the nation's socio-economic growth.
NAN reports that Kano State governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, also received the club's “Governor of the Year Award”.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was inducted into the club, was awarded a Fellowship for her outstanding contributions to the development of women and children in the state.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Mr Olorogun Emerhor, Group Vice Chairman of Standard Alliance Insurance Group.
Also elder statesmen, Dr Maitama Sule and Dr Christopher Kolade, received the “Life-Time Achievement Awards. (NAN)