Abuja — Palpable fears of the current world financial crisis having adverse impact on Nigerians became real as the Transport Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, announced on Thursday that the deplorable condition of the nation's road network might not see any improvement if the situation persists.

This is against the run of government assurances that the world financial meltdown would have little or no effect on ordinary Nigerians as the economy was strong enough and capable of withstanding the shocks.

Emerging from a function at the Presidential Villa, the minister told reporters that the crisis, which started in the United States of America, could indeed cause dwindling budgetary allocations.

She said this has made her ministry to start exploring the option of bond financing to source for money to work on the over 34,000 kilometers of roads.

"With 34,000-plus kilometers of roads in the federal system you will agree and understand that a lot of roads are still in deplorable conditions, and it is the situation which will take us a certain amount of time, even at the best of time to set right."

"Despite the situation, the minister disclosed that 'Trunk A' roads would receive top priority just as arrangements are in top gear to have the contract for the second Niger Bridge signed "in the next few weeks".

"For the existing Niger Bridge which is in a deplorable condition, we have had consultants looking at it and we are going to do something about it.

"For the second Niger Bridge, the DMO has had the final discussions with the contractors that we have the agreement with. But there were a lot of unfinished clauses in that agreement that can stall it so badly."