The Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has pledged to prioritise the continuation and effective execution of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) if confirmed by Parliament.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, January 21, Mr. Ibrahim expressed his determination to ensure that the substantial investments in DRIP are fully utilised and do not go to waste.
“If given the nod, we will work together to make sure that the DRIP project is materialised because the machines were procured to improve upon district roads that were not tarred and much money was used, so you cannot use such an amount and allow it to go to waste,” he stated.
The minister-designate underscored the importance of addressing the challenges posed by poor district road infrastructure, which continues to impede economic activities and social development, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.
“Whether we like it or not, the machines have been procured, and we must put them to good use. Therefore, there must be proper structures, proper agreements, proper monitoring, and systems to make sure that we make good use of the machines that we procured,” Mr. Ibrahim added.
Acknowledging delays and concerns about maintenance and resource allocation within the programme, Mr. Ibrahim committed to establishing mechanisms to optimise resources and ensure accountability in the use of DRIP machinery and funds.