Former Lagos State Governor and present Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said the National Assembly should be held responsible for the unmotorable state of the federal roads in Benue State and other parts of the country.
The minister made the disclosure on Friday 16th October, 2020 when a delegation of retired military generals from Benue South Senatorial district (Zone C), led by Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan (Rtd.) paid him a visit in regards to the terrible condition of the federal roads in Benue, particularly the Otukpo round about to Aliade Road; Loco-Oweto to Oju Road; Makurdi Gboko Road; Makurdi to Aliade Road; Makurdi-Naka-Adoka Road, Aliade-Oju Road and the Katsina-Ala Bridge amongst others.
In his address, AVM Morgan said he was directed to lead this delegation by General Harrison Adoga, General Robert Adoba and a team of first level generals that were and are before them; adding that these are generals that served this nation, meritoriously with impeccability.
He noted that the generals therefore, pleaded that they should be placed in conditions that would make them comfortable in their retirement.
Morgan emphasized that the larger population of Benue people are predominantly farmers whose economical livelihoods have been decapacitated as they could no longer convey their agricultural produces through the roads to urban centres.
The former Chief of Defense Intelligence to President Muhammadu Buhari told the minister that due to the unmotorable state of the federal roads in the state, many lives were cut short from accident, and thousands of vehicles damaged beyond repairs.
He, however, lamented that such deliberate detrimental consequences has been meted on their people by a nation that they served with utmost of their strength and lives, stating that is unacceptable and uncalled for.
Reacting to the retired Generals’ submissions, Fashola extended his respect to them, saluted their personalities and gave cognizance to their patriotic services to their Fatherland.
The minister emphatically shifted the blame on the lawmakers, arguing that the NASS inability to approve exact budgets appropriated and tagged to roads construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance in Benue and other parts of the country is responsible for the dilapidated state.
The ex-Governor, however, disclosed that it is not as if he is bereaved of ideas.
“I know what to do, but am not the National Assembly that has to pass the appropriated budgets into law,” he said.
“Most times, the lawmakers are concerned about their constituency project funds as if another federal presence like Roads in their States is not important”.
He said a situation where you present a bill and memo of road contracts’ appropriation of about N600Bn and the Senators/House of Reps. wouldn’t support it nor approve it, but rather would use bureaucracy to reduce its funding but prioritises their constituency project funds above the unmotorable federal roads in their states, must affect contractors who depend on the fundings to effectively carry out the road works.
The minister quoted 14 federal road contracts in Benue, particularly the Katsina-Ala Bridge, Otukpo (Enugu) roundabout – Aliade Road, Oweto -Loco Road are paramount on his table.
“Just two days ago, I directed the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency-FERMA to at least give a facelift to the Otukpo Round About Road to the General Hospital junction, as unbearable petitions are numerous on my table concerning those, but one thing is to give a directive, another is to mobilize resources of Machines and Manpower, and all these are dependent on the approval of funds,” the minister revealed.
He said it is understood that the fall in oil price has lead to paucity of fund, as against when there was an oil boom in the past administration which witnessed the state of these bad roads but did nothing to salvage them.
He noted that it is expedient to give priority to some critical infrastructure and approve appropriated funds into them.
He said he is not a lawmaker, and that the people should hold their lawmakers responsible.
He, however, advised the retired generals to also take or channel this noble course to the National Assembly and their governor to expedite actions on these roads.
In response, AVM Morgan thanked the minister and his directors, pleading that the course of this visit should not be forgotten.
The delegation led by Air Vice Marshal Morgan Rtd. are:
1. AVM Tony Adokwu 2. AVM Steve Onuh
3. AVM Emma Anebi
4. Rear Adm Sylva Abbah
5. Maj Gen Patrick Ogah
6. Maj Gen Johnson Ochoga.
Also in the company were, Dr Egboja, Barr Ajene, Hon Olofu, Engr Dan Atayi, David Okopi, Rt. Comrade John Acha and Hon. Vincent Okoko Odo.
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