N’Assembly Summons 26 States Over Unpaid Expenses Incurred on Federal Roads

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The National Assembly has summoned 26 states in the country over the expenses incurred on the federal roads projects embarked upon  by them in order to ascertain the facts and figures on the projects.

Already, a total sum of N19billion was being owed by the federal government on various federal roads executed in Kwara State  between year 2004 till date.

Among the federal roads embarked upon in the state included Kisi-Kaima federal road, Kosubosu‎ road, Pada-Patig-Rogun, Apado-Ilorin-Jebba Road.

The summog according to THISDAY checks was due to series of petitions sent to the National Assembly on various federal roads embarked by some states of the federation but yet to be paid back on the work done on the affected roads projects.

THISDAY checks revealed that most of the federal roads embarked on by the affected states were done during the past administrations of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The meeting, it was learnt,  was called at the instance of the House Representatives Committee on Works so as to assist the committee to verify all claims submitted by the states affected by non payment of funds incurred on some of the federal roads projects embarked upon  by them in their respective states.

Sources close to the meeting told THISDAY in Ilorin yesterday that the state Commissioner for Works in the 26 states were said to have   represented their  state government at the meeting.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the state’s ministerial press briefing in Ilorin yesterday, the  state commissioner for Works, Alhaji Aroyo Yahaya who confirmed the meeting with the national assembly on the repayment of expenses incurred on federal roads in the state , said that, the meeting was meant to verify the various claims raised by some states of the federation ‎on the federal roads embarked upon  by them.

He said: “As soon as the national assembly complete their claims ‎on the expenses presented to the federal government on the federal roads embarked on their various states, the affected states would have a new lease of life.”

Alhaji Yahaya added that, “I belief that, when the national budget is signing into law, the states affected may likely get the expenses incurred on the federal roads and this would assist the affected states to embark on new roads projects that would add values to the socio well being of the populace.”

The commissioner who attributed the delay in the embarking on the roads project in the state to paucity of funds raving various states government in the country said that, “as soon as the funds is available the state government would commence immediate construction of roads across the 16 local government councils of the state.”

He said this development would assist the state government to  open up various towns and villages in the state so as to bring foodstuffs to the doorsteps of rural populace.
He said the construction of roads would also bring investors to the state, adding that this would provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youths in the state.
He also said that, the state government would extend Micheal Imoudu-Ganmo road, Sango-Oke Oyi road, Geri Alimi Flyover road and all other roads during this fiscal year.