ABU DHABI // FNC members questioned the Minister of Public Works for more than five hours yesterday over the poor state of Northern Emirates roads, and lack of homes for Emiratis.
Abdullah Al Nuaimi said his ministry was not legally required to maintain Emiratis' homes, but members called for more inspections.
But Mr Al Nuaimi said a grant from the President, Sheikh Khalifa, would help to improve 12,500 homes.
"The ministry has built a number of homes and done some maintenance work but the law does not give it the right to do that usually," he said.
Asked which body was responsible if not the Ministry of Public of Works, the minister said it fell to the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.
As to the state of roads in the Northern Emirates, Mr Al Nuaimi said federal roads were the ministry's responsibility, not local roads.
But a unified standard for roads was in the works, he said, and would include standardised road signs.
Members named roads that had deteriorated over time. One mentioned by three members was Ittihad Road, which links the Northern Emirates.
"I would like you to accompany me between Sharjah and Fujairah, and the other from Ras Al Khaimah to Sharjah," Afra Al Basti (Dubai) said.
"That road has killer bumps and no signs to warn drivers. I am surprised by people saying they want to expand that road. I say fix it. It is destroyed, full of potholes."
Mr Al Nuaimi assured her the road would be fixed soon.
