FG to embark on federal road projects in Anambra State

The Senate says the provision it made in the 2016 budget for the refund of money being owed to state governments that worked on federal roads is still applicable.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works , Senator Kabiru Gaya, stated this when he led other members of the committee on a  visit to the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, at government house, Awka.

Alhaji Gaya who is representing Kano South Senatorial District, explained that the country’s 2016 financial year would not be ending in December but in the first quarter of next year.

The Chairman while stating that the aim of their visit to the state was to ascertain the condition of federal roads in the area as well as level of work done so far on the second Niger Bridge, commended the state government for its effort in rehabilitating some of the roads.

Senator Gaya who noted that it was the intention of President Muhammadu Buhari to connnect roads in the country, said the Senate would look into ways of ensuring that the Umunya -Awka axis of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway which according to him was not captured in the 2017 budget was included in the contract for the construction of the highway.

On the second Niger bridge , the Chairman explained that the delay in the execution of the project was because of a slight challenge in its concession, adding that the federal government had made available thirty one billion naira which he stated represents twenty five percent of its share of the contract sum.

Responding Governor Willie Obiano noted that their visit was very crucial especially in ensuring that the state witnesses some level of federal government presence.

Governor Obiano pointed out that the state was being owed forty three billion naira it expended in the execution of some federal projects in the area and appealed to the Senate Committee on Works to ensure that the money was refunded.

The Governor also appealed to the committee to ensure that certain roads such as Onitsha-Aguleri-Adani and Okija-Uli-Egbema were included in the 2017 budget because of their strategic importance to the nation.

The Commissioner for Road Construction, Furniture and Maintenance, Mr Lawrence Chinwuba  expressed gratitude to the committee for its effort to ensure that the Umunya axis of the Enugu-Onitsha highway was included in the 2017 budget.