The Ebonyi
Government has sought refund of N25.6billion from the Federal Government being
money spent in reconstructing federal roads in the state.
Gov. Dave Umahi
made the request on Friday in Abakaliki, when the Minister of State for Power,
Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri paid him a courtesy call.
Umahi who was
represented by his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe said that the refund would impact positively
on the state’s economy.
“The
reconstructed federal roads include: dualisation of a section of Enugu/
Abakaliki federal road with two span bridges, two culverts and three flyovers,
totallling—11.925km.
“The other
roads include the 37.5km Abakaliki/ Oferekpe road with six bridges, dualisation
of a section of Abakaliki/ Afikpo road-3.5km, failed portion of the same road
totaling 14.5km, among others,” he said.
The governor
noted that the state would not reject any largesse given it by the Federal Government
but sees the refund as a stepping stone.
“We want to
translate President Buhari’s developmental strides to the grassroots, as most
of the roads cut across the rural areas where farm produce are transported to
the urban centres.
“We don’t want
to wait for the World Bank or the United State of America to assist us in the
reconstruction as we are forging a synergy with the Federal Government to
achieve rapid development,” he said.
Shehuri said
that he and the team from the ministry were in the state to assess the
condition of federal roads in Ebonyi.
“The federal
government instituted an inter-ministerial committee headed by my ministry’s
substantive Minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to assess federal roads
reconstructed by state governments.
“The committee
would also look into the various requests by state governments for the refund
of the money used in reconstructing these roads.
“We are
therefore in Ebonyi with our technical team to conduct the assessment and duly
present our findings to the president,” he said.
He noted that
the president is expected to take appropriate measures on the recommendations,
as transportation was one of the cardinal tools of the FG’s economic
re-engineering.
“We pray that
these series of collective engagement would engender rapid social development
for both parties, as we promise to carry-out our duties diligently,” he said.
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