Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has advised the Federal
Government to include the East-West road among the critical
infrastructural projects being funded from the coffers of the nation’s
Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The governor has also noted 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 this assertion in his opening address at the 26th meeting of the
National Council on Works in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Governor Wike said the theme of the meeting: “Infrastructure
Development, Job Creation and National Economic Growth” fits to the
generally held view that road infrastructure plays a critical role in
enabling economic development, poverty reduction and inclusive progress.
Governor Wike pointed out that the East – West road which is too
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.
He urged Federal Government to urgently consider funding the East-West
Road from the Sovereign Wealth Fund to guarantee its completion by 2022
as being taunted by the Minister of the Niger Delta.
The governor observed that presently the Federal Government appears
overwhelmed with the construction and provision of too many road
projects across the country. He then 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 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 economic recovery processes was to focus on agriculture
including the resumption of construction work in 26 states with its
attendant multiple effects on the local economy.
Mr. 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 an 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.
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Edoka Tasie-Amadi said it has
become more imperative for the present generation to plan for the future
and end the perennial road infrastructural deficit expletives today.
