Fashola assures of payment of debts incurred by State govts. on reconstruction of federal roads

Works, Housing and Power Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has assured that the Federal Government has begun the process of repayment of all debts owed State Governments as a result of reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in various states of the federation.

The Minister stated this at the Government House, during a tour of Federal Government projects in Gombe State adding that the Federal Government had already sent people around the country to verify the said projects and ensure that the debts were paid off in an equitable way.

Mr. Babatunde Fashola stated that the Federal Government has special interest in the North-East in ensuring that the zone was returned to its place of glory and enhancement of economic activities and the ease of goods and persons.

While commending the Gombe State Government for undertaking the dualization of the sections of the Bauchi-Gombe Federal Highway, he assured that the Federal Government would continue to assist and support it to realize its developmental objectives.

Earlier, while taking the Minister round some of the roads, the Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Abubakar Bappa, said the state government was yet to be reimbursed about eight billion Naira it used to rehabilitate some Federal Government Highways in the state.

He said if the debts were paid, the State Government intends to proceed to undertake some Federal Government road projects that needed immediate attention, especially two Federal Government Highways from Gombe to Bauchi and from Gombe to Taraba States.

Speaking during the courtesy call, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who was represented by his Deputy Dr. Charles Iliya, called on the Federal Government to speed up efforts in the reconstruction of the ongoing projects on the Gombe-Yola road, because the rains were setting in and would pose a great challenge for those who use the road.

The Deputy Governor then pledged the State Government’s commitment to work with the Federal Government to get the projects in the state carried out without any challenge.

Federal roads projects in Gombe State are seven in number, spanning 680 kilometres, with two of the roads currently being worked on.