From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged the Federal Government to urgently consider funding the East-West Road from the nation’s Sovereign Wealth Fund to guarantee its completion by 2022 as being taunted by the Minister of the Niger Delta.
This as the governor has stated that the Federal Government’s directive stopping State governments from funding the construction or rehabilitation of failed federal roads is inimical to the effective development, management and maintenance of road infrastructure across the country.
He made the demand on Thursday, during his opening address at the 26th meeting of the National Council on Works held in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike, who noted the theme of the meeting as “Infrastructure Development, Job Creation and National Economic Growth” stressed that road infrastructure plays a critical role in enabling economic development, poverty reduction and inclusive progress.
He pointed out that the East – West road which is important to the economic prosperity of the South-South region and the nation has been under construction for over 15 years, yet a completion date is still not in sight.
The governor observed that presently the Federal Government appears overwhelmed with the construction and provision of too many road projects across the country. He suggested that it would have been better for the Federal Government to complete most of the on-going roads before embarking on new ones.
Governor Wike, advised the Federal Government to reconsider its directive stopping State Governments from funding the construction or rehabilitation of failed federal road which if not promptly fixed will upset economic growth in the affected States and challenge the wellbeing of citizens.
“It makes progressive sense as a development strategy therefore for State Governments to reconstruct such federal roads with reputable contractors on behalf of the Federal Government and get refunded after due verification of the price and quality of work done.
“The Federal and State Governments need to consult and collaborate regularly to accelerate the delivery of road infrastructure to advance and realize the hopes and aspirations of our people for development and decent living.”
Governor Wike explained that the State government is presently constructing six flyovers on a federal government road to ease the perennial traffic congestions on the problematic intersections of Port Harcourt – Aba expressway.
“Let me therefore appeal to the Federal Government to continue to collaborate with the State Governments on road development by allowing States to fix federal roads with the assurance of a refund.”
The governor stated that his administration has consistently dedicated over 65% of the State budget annually for the construction of new roads or the reconstruction and or maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roads across the State, including federal roads.
“The result is the unprecedented delivery of close to 900 kilometres of roads, bridges and flyovers spread across the length and breadth of the State, including some of the far-flung communities that have now been linked by roads for the first time.”
Minster of Work and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said the covid-19 pandemic brought to the fore the importance of human mobility to the health of any economy with the urban poor appearing to be the worse hit as a result of the lockdown.
According to him, part of measures adopted by the Federal Government to kick-start economy recovery processes was to focus on agriculture including the resumption of construction work in 26 states with its attendant multiple effects on local economy.
Fashola explained that against the former practice of flexible pavement connection module that was cost intensive, but his ministry is ready to unveil the rigid design manual which is cost effective and will guide construction activities in the country.
Chairman of senate committee of works, Senator Adamu Aliero who advocated the setting up of infrastructural bank as an alternative source of funding of federal road projects, said it has become practically difficult for the Federal Government to fund the 711 roads captured in the federal budget.
