Taraba govt urges FG to assist on road construction

The attention of the Federal Government, especially the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has been drawn to reimburse the Taraba State Government, over N20 billion it spent on the construction of some Federal Government Roads in the State.
The state Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Dr. Tafarki Agbadu Eleme, made the appeal in Jalingo, the state capital while receiving an Award from the Freelancers and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), F.C.T. Chapter.
At the Award Ceremony, held at the Banquet Hall of Taraba Motel, Jalingo Dr. Agbadu, who lauded FIBAN for the recognition further enjoined them to use their Journalistic weapon to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria to kindly refund the Taraba State Government money spent on the construction of some Federal Government roads in the State.

“Thank you for giving me this Award. What I want you to do for me added to the Award is, I am pleading with the Federal Government, especially the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to refund us with over N12.4 bn, former Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai spent on the construction of 7km Federal Government Road along Jalingo – Sunkani – Garba Chede”

The Commissioner further explained that the present Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has sent the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to the state for verification purposes on the issue. “Mallam Adamu Adamu on arrival, passed through the road, submitted his good report to Hon. Babatunde Fashola”, he said

The second Federal Government road, according to Dr. Agbadu was the Bali – Serti – Gembu, also awarded by former Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai. This project was abandoned until the present administration of Darius Dickson Ishaku, who recalled the Construction Company, PW (Nig.) Ltd and over N10bn has been spent already.

The Taraba State Works, Transport and Housing Commissioner, Dr. Tafarki Agbadu Eleme, further reiterated the potentials at the Mambilla Plateau, to the people of the State and Nigeria at large. “President Muhammadu Buhari wants to commence the construction of the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power, hence the need to work on the road”, he said.

“Jalingo – Kona – Lau road was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works in February, 2015 at a single lane without drainages. Up to August, 2015, no mobilization fee was paid to the Contractor, Moulds Nig. Ltd. until when Governor Ishaku came on board. To avert flooding, Governor Ishaku ordered for the dualisation of the road with drainages. A financial agreement was signed with the Federal Ministry of Works, approval was sought from them and we have done more than 90% of the road.”

“Up till now that I am talking to you, no single kobo has been paid to the Taraba State Government, we are pleading with the Federal Government of Nigeria to refund these monies”

Responding to the Request of the Hon. Commissioner, the Transition Chairman, FIBAN assured that they will use their wealth of experience to approach the Federal Ministry of Works with a view to yielding results.

Speaking with newsmen, the Transition Chairman, Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), FCT Chapter, Oladipo M. Olaniran, who according to him works with Aso Radio, Abuja, said FIBAN came to Jalingo to give meritorious award to the Governor, Darius Ishaku, SSG, Anthony Jellason, Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport, Dr. Tarfarki Agbadu Eleme and the PDP Chairman, Victor Bala Kola who they considered are working very hard to develop Taraba State.

“With what we have seen on ground, these people need to be encouraged and the only way to encourage them or ask them to work harder is to give them the Award, when you see people doing well, you need to encourage them.

It was reliably gathered by our Correspondent that all the names listed by the Journalists for Award, it was only the Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport, Dr. Tafarki Agbadu Eleme that was present and was bestowed with the meritorious award. The Governor and others were unavoidable absent.