Federal Roads: Lagos Assembly Seeks Refund of N52 Billion From Federal Government

The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to refund the N52 Billion the state spent on repairing federal roads in the state over the years.
Raising the issue under Matter of Urgent Public Importance on Tuesday November 17,2015, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, who congratulated the new Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola on his appointment, said that it was necessary for the money to be refunded to the state for some important projects.
He added that the Federal Government should complete on-going projects in the state and pay attention to other laudable projects that would help the development of the state.

This was supported by Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara from Surulere Constituency 2.

Speaking on the issue, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that it was important to remind former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of the challenges facing the state having served in the state for eight years.

“He has also been in the forefront of the repair of Federal roads in Lagos State and the refund of money expended on federal roads by the state government.

“We must write a letter to the minister to call their attention to the urgent need to repair federal roads in the state. It is better to make this appeal to him before the work load of handling three major areas of government becomes much,” he said.

According to Hon. Tobun Abiodun, Babatunde Fashola should put Lagos State utmost in his mind as all families in Nigeria are represented in the state.

He said that most business outlets have their headquarters in Lagos State and that President Muhammadu Buhari gave Fashola the job as Works Minister based on his performance in the state.

In his view, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade also agreed that the appointment of Fashola as Works, Power and Housing Minister was based on his performances as the governor of Lagos State, adding that some of the lawmakers in the assembly were part of the success.

“There is nothing wrong in calling on former governor Fashola to repair our roads. We just need to remind him as he was in the forefront of the struggle. The prayers should be directed to the President of the country to give attention to Lagos roads and refund the money spent on Federal roads by the state government,” he said.

Hon. Yinka Ogundimu stated that the issue could not be over-emphasised, and that what was being done was just to remind the federal government that the federal roads in the state should be fixed.

In his submission, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu said that the matter should not be limited to roads, but that it should be extended to power and housing.

Speaking on the matter, Hon. Tunde Braimoh said that it was wrong to call on former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on the matter as he said that it could be interpreted as seeking for favour.

He suggested that the Federal Government should be called upon generally to develop Lagos State as calling on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing could cause misunderstanding.

Another lawmaker, Hon. Bisi Yusuf said that the time was right to make the call as he said that motorists spend as much as 10 to 15 hours on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway due to gridlock.

“Lagos State must be given a special status. Special funds should be earmarked for the development of the state. Fashola should pay a special attention to Lagos State,” he said.