The Kwara State Government has said that it will be spending over N8b on federal roads in the state after appropriate approval is received from the Federal Government.

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, said this on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 20th National Council on Works, according to a statement.

While emphasising the need for synergy between the Federal Government and other tiers of government, the governor said the state had already spent N7bn on other federal roads.

He said: “Strong synergy between Federal Government and other tiers of government in the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads across the country is necessary and will ensure high quality standards in the maintenance of roads and infrastructural facilities across the country.

“My administration places premium attention on road construction and rehabilitation for the economic growth of the state. We initiated and completed about 400km of roads in the last two years, while about 500km of roads are currently on-going across the three senatorial districts of the state.”

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, said the theme of this year’s council meeting, “Reforming the Road Sector for Sustainable Development” was designed to focus attention on the need to improve the road infrastructure in Nigeria for economic growth.

He said: “Far reaching decisions were taken at the last council of works to set the platform for the Ministry of Works to revolutionalise the road sector for economic development for the nation. Two draft-bills for the creation of the federal road authority and National Road fund arising from the Ministry’s road sector reform committee’s report have been approved by the National Council on privatisation and will be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.”