Buhari Administration Using Infrastructure Development To Rebuild The Economy-Fashola The Federal Government under President Muhammdu Buhari is using infrastructure development as a vehicle to take the nation out of recession and rebuild the Nigerian economy; and putting the country’s resources where it is necessary for the people. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN affirmed this during a courtesy visit on the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun as he continues his inspection tour of projects in the South-West geo-political zone. Fashola requested for collaborative effort between the state government and the Controllers of Works and Housing, appealing that they are granted access at the highest level in order for them to serve and assist the state in whatever capacity to achieve “your developmental goals politically, socially and economically” The Minister mentioned that the contractors on many of the federal roads in the state are back to construction sites and thus assisting in relating to the neighboring states of Lagos, Oyo and Ondo and further generating employment of Nigerians at the various sites. Fashola expressed appreciation for the dedication shown by the Governor Amosun in rebuilding federal roads in Ogun State and stated that the Federal Government is committed to repayment of the funds expended on federal roads. The Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Popoola, earlier said that there are 1,380 Kilometre of federal roads in Ogun State and that the Governor took it upon himself to repair some of the roads and also assisted in removing markets along the federal highways at Mowe and Ibafo. In response, Governor Amosun expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the intervention on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway stressing that the road is the busiest in the country; adding that no development could get to any place without infrastructure. He requested that Ogun State should be adequately compensated for the N123bn which had been certified as expenses on federal roads out of a total of N223bn expended. Governor Amosun said that state government would be grateful if attention could be focused on the Shagamu-Ajebandele Road reconstruction as it was done on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway; adding that federal government should urgently intervene on the Papa-Olorunsogo interchange Road and the Lagos-Abeokuta old road. ...

Fashola Reiterates FG’s Commitment to Co-Operate with State Governments to Achieve Their developmental Agenda 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 the state capital, Ado Ekiti said that help is on the way with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as far as road infrastructure is concerned; adding that the President 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. He 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 opportunies for indigenes of Ekiti State. 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.   ...

FG To Pay Outstanding Debt Owed To The State Governments-Fashola. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has rekindled the hope of state governments across the nation that Federal Government is working assiduously to see that in no distant time, the money incurred by the states on Federal road projects will be paid back, saying that “Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to fulfill his promise by paying all expense incurred by the state governments on federal roads.” Fashola revealled this 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. He explained that the Federal Government is working hard to see that bond is raised so that states get their money back. The Minister stated that the purpose for the Federal government to post the Federal Controllers to the state of the federation is not to engage in rivalry game but to strengthening 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. Fashola 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 Adesoji 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 “his government appreciates importance of infrastructure development as one of the ways that will improve economic activities as  well as  employment generation of the people, hence the government took a giant step to intervene in many road projects across the state, whether Federal Government roads, state roads 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.” He 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 with the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari 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 of 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 bailout some communities who have been experiencing total blackout for more than six months. ...