Abstract:
The study concentrates on assessment of road infrastructure financing in Ondo State: the condition,
budgetary provisions and extent of expenditure of budgetary provision of road infrastructures in
the State were examined from year 2000 to year 2017. The time frame was selected based on
availability of data. Three classifications of roads were noted; they are Trunk A, Trunk B and
Trunk C, which are commonly known as Federal Road, State Road and Local Road respectively.
Each of these categories has its expected road infrastructures. The study adopts both qualitative
and quantitative research methods. The qualitative approach applied was Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs) using multi-stage sampling procedure, while the quantitative approach employed
longitudinal data. The study area was Ondo State with participants made up of bureaucrats who
are directly involved in policy formulation, implementation and NURTW as beneficiary of road
infrastructure financing in Ondo State. Findings shown that condition of the road infrastructure in
the state were below standardized practice of road infrastructure. The trend of budgetary provisions
for road infrastructure in Ondo State dwindled over years and its extent of budgetary expenditure
was Zigzagged on the approved budget for road infrastructure. Worrisomely, an increase in the
actual total revenue does not influence the actual expenditure on road infrastructure. In conclusion,
budgetary provision does not necessarily translate to actual budget. In conclusion, it was noted that
there were more to the budget approval as the gap between approved budget and its expenditure
grown wider. The study recommend that a state of emergency should be declared on road
infrastructure in Ondo State with investment increase annually, whereby there will be a road
infrastructure funding arrangement at Federal level to be distributed to the 3-tiers of government
for this purpose. Government needs to grant some concessions on the operation and administration
of highways through toll collection.
