Senator Dave Umahi, the Federal Minister of Works, stated that the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) program will expedite the road infrastructure revolution across the country.
He made this claim in a closed-door meeting with Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Aliko Dangote, and Tony Elumelu at the Ministry of Works on Wednesday, according to a statement on the ministry’s website.
HDMI, a public-private partnership, aims to alleviate the financial burden on the Federal Government by involving the private sector in the construction, operations, and maintenance of federal highways nationwide.
“This private sector initiative (HDMI) will fastrack road infrastructure revolution and bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of Federal Highways,” Umahi said.
According to Nairametrics, Umahi previously established three committees to oversee road construction projects carried out by concessionaires in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works.
The minister stressed the potential for private sector investments in the Federal Government’s management of over 35,000 km of the national road network to stimulate economic growth.
Umahi highlighted the federal highway network’s significance, as it handles over 70% of vehicular traffic, serving as a crucial infrastructure for the movement of goods and services nationwide.
“This initiative will trigger economic development, job creation, local content development and wealth creation for the Nigerian population,” Umahi said.
