ASSESSMENT OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

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.