The federal government says it will reimburse state governments for the renovation of Federal government owned roads in the country. The Buhari administration disclosed this after the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu, said fives states have been refunded N143 billion so far for constructing federal roads.
The minister stated this during a courtesy call to Governor of Kebbi state Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. According to him “Out of the total distance of roads we have across the country, 34,000 kms 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.
He explained the Federal Executive Council, FEC set up a committee to verify and clear road construction executed by some state governments since 2016.
Bagudu “The committee was headed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola, and was able to clear and verify 25 states that built federal government roads in their states.
He said efforts are being made to clear the backlog of funds owed state in this regard.
“As I am talking to you, by tomorrow, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing will be in Yobe State 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 requested,” the minister said.
