Fashola inspects road projects in Yobe state

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday  inspected the Nguru –  Machina and Gashua – Yusufari, federal road projects that the Yobe State Government  executed for which they are requesting reimbursement.

While speaking to journalists during the inspection, the Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari promised that refund would be made to all states that intervened in Federal Roads though such interventions took place before the advent of this administration in 2015.

He explained that some state governments  got their own refund in the first term of this administration while some others got theirs late last year.

However,  States like Yobe and Kebbi who were yet to get their own sent their requests to the Federal Government which led to the reconstitution of the Presidential Committee to assess the claims by the State Governments and submit their reports for consideration.

Fashola said in response to a question on the possible amount being expected by the State.

” You know that there are standard prices for materials  and also standard design, we will file our report based on what we  find, we have a method for making quantification and we will send it to the government Cost Control Centre and they will then advice government as to appropriate payment “.

Speaking on the impact of the ongoing special repair of the heavily flooded area in Zangwon Kanwa on Nguru –  Machina road by the Federal Government,  Fashola described the work as a relief measure for the Community because due to the excavation of some of the construction materials from the area.

it was burrowed thereby turning it  into a pond which has become the lowest point in the place, a situation that brought a lot of challenges to the people.

This was contained in statement signed and issued by Director Press and Public Relations, Boade Akinola .

He said the  current work by the Government is a temporary measure which would be followed by a permanent solution that would be considered by both the State and Federal Government.

The Secretary to Yobe State Government, Baba Mallam Wali expressed gratitude to the Honourable Minister for coming to assess the projects and hoped that he had seen quality work.

Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Yobe State, Engineer Olusegun Babalola Akinmade informed the Minister that the repair work in  the flooded area in Zangwon Kanwa on Nguru –  Machina road  will intensify after the raining season. He said the water in the pond will be rechanneled  while the capacity will be increased downward by 2 metres just as it is done in residential houses when Septic Tanks are emptied.

The Controller said the situation was so bad before work commenced in the area to the extent that some residents were evacuated.