FG Refunds N143 Billion To 5 States For Road Projects

The Federal Government said that it has reimbursed a total amount of N143 billion to 5 states for the construction works on some federal roads.

This follows earlier permission given to the states by the Federal Government (FG) to undertake the construction of some federal roads with an agreement to refund later.

This disclosure was made by the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, on Saturday, during a visit to the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Minister, an engineer by profession, was in Kebbi to ascertain the level of work executed by the state government on the construction of some federal roads in the state.

What the Minister of State for Works and Housing is saying

Aliyu in his statement said, “Out of the total distance of roads we have across the country, 34,000 kms plus are under the jurisdiction of the federal government out of which we are currently working on over 13,000 kms simultaneously with over 800 contracts currently ongoing.

“Before now, some states may find it extremely necessary, because of urgency, to approach the federal government to seek permission to construct federal roads that are within their states.

“The federal government will give them the permission and they will be reimbursed later. Before 2016 or around that period, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) set up a committee to verify and clear road construction executed by some state governments.

“The committee headed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola was able to clear and verify 25 states who built federal government roads in their states.”

The Minister of State had stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had given approval for the payment of N477 billion, which was shared among the 25 states respectively, adding that this is the third set of which Kebbi is among, alongside Yobe and Taraba States.

He said, “As I am talking to you, by tomorrow, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing will be in Yobe to ascertain and verify their road construction, while the Hon. Minister of Education will be in Taraba to do a similar job.

“That’s why I am here together with my team today, the secretariat is domiciled in the SGF’s office and that’s why you see me with the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, to come and verify the two roads as you requested.”

On his part the Kebbi State Governor, Bagudu appreciated the minister for the visit, applauding the present administration for completing one of the legacy roads it inherited; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Kontagora road.

He said that the project is one of the numerous uncompleted roads that were inherited by the President Buhari administration which are either completed or on the way to completion and was full of commendation.

What you should know

• It can be recalled that in November last year, the House of Representatives approved the issuance of promissory notes worth N148.141 billion to 5 States of the federation as refund for federal road projects executed on behalf of the federal government.
• The States included Bayelsa, Cross River, Ondo, Osun and Rivers.
• The approval by the lower house follows a request by President Muhammadu Buhari through a letter dated August 13, 2020, seeking the approval of the National Assembly for the refund.