Gov’t Needs US$3.5 Billion

-Public Works Minister Asserts

By R. Joyclyn Wea

Public Works Minister, Mobutu Vlah Nyepan says US$3.4 to US$3.5 Billion is needed by the government of Liberia to improved road network across the country.

Minister Nyepan made the statement August 2, 2018 at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing in Monrovia.

According to Minister Nyepan, Liberia is faced with road deficit and would take two thousand years to pave roads in the country, stating “if nothing is done by government to continuously support the road sector of the country, it would be even difficult”.

Minister Nyepan asserted that Liberia as a country is in a terrible state in term of roads connectivity and must do everything to revise the current situation saying “we cannot continue to do business as usual reason president Weah made road connectivity as focus of his developmental drive.”

The Public Works Minister emphasized that the budget is small and the demands are numerous in order to change the condition to freely fly across the country, adding that more should be invested.

He claimed that all roads that were not completed by previous regime would be completed under the Weah’s six years regime as president of Liberia saying as per the infrastructural drive, the Ministry of Public Works is committed to completing all road projects across the country.

He further explained that the road between Gabriel Tucker Bridge and that of St. Paul Bridge will be reconstructed and maintain by the government of Liberia consistent with budgetary resources as government is doing feasibility studies on every road talked about in the country.

Minister Nyepan further asserted that government of Liberia being aware of the deficit of road construction in Monrovia, has done a feasibility studies for a modern “Overhead Interchange Bridge” in Congo Town, MOH, and boulevard which is being funded by the Chinese Government.

He also disclosed that a feasibility study is underway for the reconstruction of the modernization of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Road, thus, the road is inaccessible during heavy down pour of rain.

The Public Works boss indicated that this is not just about constructing roads, but rather it would also provide jobs opportunities for local economy in Liberia.

He claimed that when government goes out to borrow loans it is about complementing the efforts of connecting the country, noting that the country must be willing to make sacrifices that would enable them to develop the nation through road network.

Meanwhile, the Minister has revealed that two hundred million (US$200,000,000.00) was allocated under the Weah’s 2017/2018 recast budget to the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) for road construction and maintenance.

But Minister Nyepan explained that one kilometer (1km) of road value one million United States dollars (US$1,000,000.00).

According to him, the government wants to be able to construct one thousand kilometers path roads within President Weah six years regime as compared to what the country has had in 171 years.