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| Fashola before briefing the press after inspection |
The Minister of Power, Works and
Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has reiterated the commitment of the
Federal Government to assist every state in the Federation towards the achievement
of their developmental agenda within the scope of the nation’s Constitution.
Fashola stated this at the beginning
of his inspection tour of road projects in the South-West geo-political zone
with a courtesy visit on the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.
The Minister who had travelled from
Abuja by road to Ado Ekiti, state capital of Ekiti, said help is on the way as
far as road infrastructure is concerned; adding that President Muhammadu Buhari
is committed to redeem the expenses of state governments on federal roads.
He explained that the Federal
Government is in the process of raising bonds to ensure that states get their
money back.
The Minister further expressed the
optimism that the government at the Federal level will assist the state to
achieve its agenda, as the ministry is collaborating with the Federal Ministry
of Finance in providing the fund required for payment to construction
companies.
Fashola also enjoined State
Governments to treat the Federal Controllers of works and Housing in the
various states as they treat Ambassadors in order to make the roads safe and
motorable. He asked for seamless relationship and co-operation as the
Controllers would be held accountable for the condition of federal roads within
their domain.
He expressed appreciation to the
State Government for the provision of land for the National Housing Programme
which he said would be beneficial to the state as it would provide jobs and
economic opportunities for indigenes of Ekiti State.
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| One of the roads under reconstruction |
Earlier, the Federal Controller of
Works, Engineer Hezekiah Kehinde, had briefed the Governor and senior officials
of the State on the situation of the various Federal roads in the State.
Governor Ayodele Fayose, in his
response stated that for the Minister to travel by road from Abuja to Ekiti to
feel what the ordinary Nigerians are feeling on the road is enough statement to
convince people of the Minister’s passion and commitment to improve the status
of the roads and the well being of Nigerians.
The Governor promised to remove the
signposts which he had erected on federal roads in the state and to tone done
his criticism of the Federal Government, hoping that the Minister will match
words with action.
Mr. Fayose asked the Minister to
revisit the issue of payment to the State Government for the intervention on
the Akure-Ikere-Ado Ekiti federal road on which he had done a lot and spent a
considerable amount of about N2billion.
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