Lagosians can look forward to improved intra-state trips, as the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration gets cracking with the implementation of the N1.169 trillion 2020 budget.
A breakdown of the budget shows that the sum of N117.248 billion is projected to be spent by the government on critical transportation infrastructure, in what is expected to address perennial gridlocks in Nigeria’s biggest sub-national economy.
The sum is N85 billion higher than the N31.673 billion allocated to the sector in the state’s 2019 budget.
With an estimated population of over 22 million people, compounded by poor transportation infrastructure, Lagos, Nigeria’s former capital city and economic hub, is daily bedevilled by road congestions. But the government believes that the projected 2020 spending will help to breathe new life into the clogged transportation sector of the state.
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Listed to benefit from the N117.248 billion are road maintenance, development of the coastal lines, ongoing Blue Line rail infrastructure, and traffic management, among others.
Sam Egube, the state commissioner for economic planning and budget, at the 2020 budget analysis on Tuesday, said the government is poised to take on more in the transportation sector, this year, as a justification for the increased allocation.
“This increase shall address the zero-pothole strategy, create link-roads within the metropolis to resolve traffic congestion and its attendant risks,” said Egube.
On the development of infrastructure along the coastline, the commissioner said N11.288 billion has been earmarked to curb ocean surge and protect lives and properties.
Speaking further, the commissioner said the sum of N44.510 billion (as against N17.590 billion allocated in 2019) has been budgeted to push the Blue and Red rail lines rail projects, improvement of junctions around the state and completion of trailer parks, towards taking trucks off the roads and bridges.
The state House of Assembly passed the 2020 budget of N1.169 trillion on December 30, 2019 and was signed into law by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on December 31, 2019.
The budget is made up of N711.033 billion capital expenditure and N457.529 billion recurrent expenditure, showing 61:39 capital to recurrent expenditure ratio in favour of capital expenditure.
The total revenue is estimated at N1.071 trillion, while the deficit is N97.53 billion, which the state government hopes to finance through a combination of external and internal loans.
