Now that the elections are coming, most elected officials are suddenly waking up from their deep slumber, simply because the season of electorate as beautiful bride has arrived.
No wonder, the long-abandoned Sango-Ota/Abeokuta road, though a federal road, amongst others are receiving the attention of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government in Ogun state.
Sometime last week, he carried out an assessment visitation to the federal road, showing belated empathy for inhabitants of that area and other road users. He said his action had become necessary after the state government, alongside Lagos State government had made frantic efforts several times to draw the attention of the Federal Government, through the works ministry to repair the road without any positive response.
Abiodun, as the election year approaches, could suddenly not fathom its citizens’ continued suffering, due to the negligence of the authority in charge of this road.
He visited the bad road and gave an ultimatum saying, “If after two weeks, the Federal Government refuses to commence work on this road, I will take it over and reconstruct it.”
Nigerians are waiting to see what will happen.However, during Dayo Oketola, editor of The Punch newspaper’s management visit to Fashola at the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing headquarters, the minister was told about the ultimatum given to the FMWH by the governor to deliver the Sango/Ota-Abeokuta project or the state would take over the road construction, Fashola said, “I don’t take ultimatums from any state. I take ultimatum from the President, my employer.”
Asked whether the ministry would allow the state to handle the project, the minister replied, “Go and read the Federal Highways Act and see what it says about the management of federal roads. Can I take over a state road?”
On the Lagos-Ota road, Fashola said the contract was over N50bn, “but go and look in the budget and see how much is there (for the road), may be N200m.”
He went on to say, “It is us that got Sukuk this year of 7bn and so they are working as the money allows them. And if we go and borrow you will complain. That Sukuk is debt. On Second Niger Bridge we are using 19 million litres of diesel supplied by Nigerians.”
Evident to Fashola’s claim that a state may not be able to take over federal roads, section 1 (1) (2) of the 1971 Federal Highway Act states that “subject to the provision of this act, all federal highways shall on the commencement of this Act, be under the management, direction and control of the Minister charged with the responsibility for roads (in this Act referred to as ” the minister”). The minister shall have responsibility (a) for the planning (including research and designing) of federal highways, (b) for the construction and maintenance, (c) for the supervision of users, thereof, and (d) for the regulation of traffic.
Theliberationnews discovers that by the clear provisions of this Act, It remains to be seen if Ogun State Government will take any step further beyond lip service to take up the humongous project.
The die is cast between Minister Babatunde Fashola and Governor Dapo Abiodun. Theliberationnews believes that the governor needs to be properly guided. Also, Fashola needs to tell Nigerians living in Ogun state when that all-important road will be fixed.
