Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister-Designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, has criticized the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), describing it as a “laudable project but fraught with challenges.”
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Ibrahim lamented that DRIP was “politicized and destroyed at birth,” hindering its ability to achieve its intended objectives.
He emphasized the importance of depoliticizing development initiatives to ensure their success, vowing to implement reforms for better governance at the local level.
Ibrahim also addressed concerns over the sale of state lands, asserting that “not all state land sales are the same.”
He defended legally conducted transactions as permissible, while stressing the need to distinguish them from questionable practices.
“Legal sale of state lands is not wrong,” he stated. Ibrahim’s remarks come as part of broader discussions during his vetting to determine his suitability for leading the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.
