According to Works Minister David Umahi, the Federal government is not now able to reimburse State governments for money spent on Federal Roads.
During his Thursday visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan, Umahi made this clear.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Minister is in Oyo State on a two-day working visit.
“The federal government will not be able to commit at this time due to the state of the economy.
“However, records of such road projects done by the states would be kept and could be revisited when the economy improves,” he said.
He praised Makinde for the administration’s involvement in road construction.
According to the minister, the intervention lessened people’s suffering.
“We are one government, whether it be for state or federal highways. The goal and duty of office is to put the interests of the people’s wellbeing ahead of all other considerations, he stated.
Umahi pressed Makinde to use concrete pavement technology in road building projects, claiming that it was more resilient and less expensive than asphalt roads.
He added that about 95% of the roads he developed as governor of Ebonyi were constructed with concrete pavement, saying that road projects using concrete pavement in Lagos State had been successful.
The Minister explained that he was inspecting South West federal government road projects when asked why he was in Oyo State.
In Abuja, according to Umahi, he met with every contractor in charge of the North West, North Central, and South West road projects.
“After the meeting, I decided to visit these projects to know the quality of the work done and other things on the ground,” he stated.
In order to successfully complete the federal government’s initiatives in the state, he further sought further collaboration from the Oyo state administration.
Makinde responded by thanking the minister for his visit.
He claimed that Umahi’s record as the leader of Ebonyi speaks for itself.
The governor claimed that his administration gave priority to road projects since they were crucial to the economy.
Whether they be state or federal roadways, we are dedicated to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of numerous road projects.
“For instance, it took us two years to obtain federal government approval for the 34 km Oyo-Iseyin road, which we immediately gave to a contractor after receiving it due of its significance to the state’s agribusiness.
The former president Olusegun Obasanjo will open the route on September 15. Although the documents are there and we will present them to the Minister, we are not asking for a reimbursement right away.
Makinde added that his administration would keep spending money on road projects to advance the state.
He informed the minister of his preparedness to work with the federal government to dualize the Ibadan-Abeokuta road’s Oyo state section.
The governor also let the minister know that he and his colleagues in the states of Lagos and Ogun had agreed to light the Lagos-Ibadan Road.
He said that because it was the busiest road in the nation, lighting the entire section of it would improve safety along the road.
