Fashola promises to reimburse state govts

Fashola during an inspection tour

The federal government in no distant time will reimburse the state governments for the money incurred while handling federal road projects in their states.

This assurance was given by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola in Osogbo while playing a courtesy call on the  Governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in his office during  an  inspection tour to  Federal government projects under his ministry in the  South-West geo-political zone recently.

Fashola said, “The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to fulfill his promise by paying all expense incurred by the state governments on federal roads.”

He explained that the federal government is working hard to see that bond is raised so that states get their money back.

The Minister further stated that the purpose to post the Federal Controllers to the states of the federation is not to engage in rivalry game but to strengthen the cordial relations between the federal and the state governments. “Therefore they are partners in progress and they must be seen as the representative of federal government,” he noted.

Fashola however applauded Osun state government for its quick intervention on Gbongan-Kwara state boundary road, which will ultimately going to lead to economic recovery of Nigerians as well as reducing the travel time of the commuters plying along this corridor.

In his response, the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, expressed his gratitude to the Minister and by extension to President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping to his promises since assumption of office.

The governor explained the seal for his administration to embark on infrastructural development. He said, “My government appreciates importance of infrastructure development as one of the ways that will improve economic activities as well as employment generation to the people, hence we took a giant step to intervene in many road projects across the state, whether federal government, state or local government roads.”

While at Ondo state governor’s office earlier in the day, the Minister used the visit to appeal to the government of Ondo State to co-operate with the Federal Controllers posted to the state because federal government realized that for Nigerians to fully feel the impact of government in terms of infrastructural development, there must be collaboration between the federal and state governments, therefore, it must be noted that federal government is not in a game of rivalry with any state governments.

He solicited for endurable co-operation between the state government and Federal Controllers in the state; saying that “this is necessary because development anchors on peaceful co-existence among the key actors in the system.”

Fashola concluded by saying that the Controllers in the state would be held responsible should there be any deplorable condition of federal projects within the purview of the areas of their assignments.

Fashola who was in Ondo State en-route Ekiti State said that help is on the way as far as road infrastructure development is concerned; saying that the President is committed to refund all money spent by the state governments on federal roads.

While responding, the governor appreciated the Minister’s visit, saying that it is a sign of many good things that await the new administration in the state. He appealed to the Minister on Owo-Akungba-Okene road and said “due to its strategic position, the road needed to be dualised as this is the only road connecting South West to Northern States from the Ondo axis.” He also called on the Minister to bail out some communities who have been experiencing total blackout for more than six months.