FG ‘ll Refund Money Spent by States Govt on Federal Roads – Fashola

• As Akeredolu pleads FG for more roads construction

By Oluniyi Akintunde, Akure

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has said the Federal Government was working towards refunding the expenditure used in executing Federal road projects by the states.

Fashola gave the disclosure on Thursday (today) during a courtesy visit to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state at his Alagbaka office in Akure, the capital city.

The Minister who came to inspect some federal government projects which included ongoing roads and housing projects disclosed that the move made by the FG to refund the states was a result of complains raised by the states over funds spent on federal projects.

He said: “We have received complaints from various states which I believed your state (Ondo) wasn’t excluded that the FG should refund investment made on several roads (Federal) projects.

“We have, however, sent the results of the verifications to the office of Bureau for Public Procurement to advice us on the quantity and final pricing which will form the bases of what FG will agree to pay.

“Mr. President had earlier announced during the budget presentation that, there is a plan to raise a bond and made the payment.”

Fashola explained that the FG was not competing with any state government in terms of urban renewal projects and infrastructure developmental plans in the country, assuring that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to supporting all the states of the federation in order to achieve their developmental objectives and priorities.

He added that the FG was also looking towards generating gas for the Omotosho power plant in the Southern Senatorial District of the state for the purpose of boasting electricity.

The Minister commended the Ondo State government for providing a spacious land for the FG to initiate a housing project for the benefit of the people in the state.

Fashola expressed optimism that the ongoing housing project would create opportunities for the unemployed and artisans in the state.

In his remark, Governor Akeredolu commended the Minister for the visit, adding that coming to the state through the road from Abuja was an indication that the minister was prepared to work.

Akeredolu said the people of Ondo state had no reason to doubt the Minister over his promises to refund moneys spent on federal roads projects by the State.

He pleaded with the FG to look into the roads along Ipele/Isua expressway which links the northern areas of the state to Abuja, noting that a dual carriageway is needed in the area.

Akeredolu said: “The Federal government should also help us look into the bad network road that links our state to Abuja, Ekiti and Benin in order to ease transportation.

“In the Southern area of this state, our people have been in total darkness for two and three years, we are urging the federal government to look into this.”