Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said that the federal Government is making efforts towards repaying the cumulative debts incurred by states in the construction and rehabilitation of federal roads in their respective domain.
Fashola made this known while briefing Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state after inspecting some federal roads under construction and rehabilitation in the state.
The minister was on a five state tour of Ekiti, ondo, osun, oyo and ogun states to assess positions of federal government projects.
He said his ministry is ready to partner with state governments to ensure infrastructural revolution in the country as promised by the Buhari-led administration.
Fashola stressed that there has been an improvement in power generation across the various power plants in the country with the major challenges bearing on transmission.
The minister commended the governor of the state for taking up some of the federal government roads for construction and assured that the money spent on the project will be repaid.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the efforts of Ogbeni Aregbesola on his intervention on federal roads in the state despite the paucity of funds. He is not only attempting at doing the roads, I can see that the projects have been given to competent contractors who are doing a good job.
“Road construction is a continuous thing, we will see how we can partner with you and support your efforts. I assure you that the debts on these roads will be paid very soon, the President is serious about making this easy for you.
“I am so delighted seeing the kind of mutual relationship that exists between the federal controller of works and that of housing with government officials in Osun, these people should be seen as ambassadors because they are to assist in delivering good projects for Osun.
“Let me make it clear that the federal government is not in competition with any state governor concerning road projects, we are just concerned about the delivery of quality road projects across the country. He said.
The minister who was led round the project sights by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, state of Osun, Engr. Nurudeen Adeagbo also charged the contractors handling the road projects to ensure a timely completion of the job.
According to the minister, “I want to sincerely thank the government of Osun for being one of the few states that gave us land for housing project, this will go a long way in enhancing building as well as reducing the rate of unemployment in Osun.
“We are also responsible for the delivery of power to Nigerians, we have recently approved the extension of the Osogbo transmission station, this will also help in boosting energy supply all around the country.
In his response, Governor Rauf Aregbesola commended the passion of Fashola on the welfare of the Nigerian people as well as the development of their standard of living.
The governor while appreciating the efforts of the minister since assuming the seat, urged him to see to following the correct allignment of federal roads in the state, while expressing gratitude to the minister for extending the construction of the Ilesa-Osogbo road to the railway junction in the state capital.
He also charged the federal government through the minister to intensify efforts at rehabilitating the Ilie-Ikirun-Iragbiji Road, stressing that it will be a major break as it will go a long way in Opening a lot of agricultural communities in the area.
He also charged Fashola to expedite action on the federal housing estate in the state, saying the state deserves it as a matter of right.
“I am grateful for your commitment to the improvement of our nation and we urge you not to look back, I have absolute confidence in your capacity to deliver.
“Concerning most of the federal roads in Osun, I want you to please follow the actual allignment in the rehabilitation of these roads, for example, the Ilesa-Osogbo road is not just from the round about at Ilesa, but from “Eti oni”.
“I know there is paucity of funds, but will be very glad if you can embark on the Ilea-Ikirun-Iragbiji road, it will be a major break through for government as it will go a long way in opening a lot of farming communities in that area” the Governor stated.
Federal road projects visited in Osun include: the 30 kilometre dualisation of Gbongan-Akoda road and Chief Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange Bridge, the 30.20 kilometer reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo road.
