Aloga Ogbogo, the Executive Secretary of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, on Monday advised the Federal Government to create a special fund for road maintenance across the country.
Ogbogo made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
He advised that such fund should be dedicated to maintenance of roads aside the budgetary provisions.
The NARTO official said the fund could be funded from petroleum products’ resources and managed by a private consultant for accountability.
He said: “If we continue to tie road maintenance to annual budgets, the raining season would have set in before a budget is passed.
“So, I think there should be a special fund.
“If they are not going to concession it out, then they should create a road maintenance fund.”
Ogbogo said government should try to improve on the road network, stressing that no economy could grow without good roads.
He also advised that other modes of transportation like rail should be developed to complement road transportation.
Ogbogo said he was concerned by the absence of a Transport Development Bank to give financial assistance to operators in the sector as done to other sectors.
He expressed optimism that the road sector in Nigeria would improve tremendously if government could pay more attention to it.
NAN.
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