The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to the rehabilitation of roads across the country.

The newly elected chairman of the association in Kwara, Alhaji Raufu Atoyebi, made this call in Ilorin on Sunday shortly after his election.

He decried the poor state of most federal roads in Nigeria particularly the ones passing through Kwara.

Atoyebi however commended the president for allocating a big chunk of this year’s budget to the transport sector.

He said that the provision of good roads in the country would enhance commercial and socio-economic development.

“It is only when goods and people can move freely between the various zones in the country that the economy of the nation could grow by leaps and bounds.”

The NARTO chairman noted that though huge budgetary allocation was made to the transport section in this year’s budget, the president should ensure that the funds are effectively utilised for road rehabilitation.

He pledged that his association would collaborate with the Federal Government to revive the nation’s economy in order to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country especially among the youths.

Other elected NARTO officers in the state included Alhaji Babatunde Ayinla, Vice Chairman; Alhaji Abdulsalam Ibrahim, Secretary; Alhaji Yunusa, Treasurer and Alhaji Ganiyu Ibrahim, Auditor. (NAN)