FG refunds Lagos outstanding expenses on federal roads

The Federal Government has made refund to Lagos State government running into billions of naira, being what the state incurred on the rehabilitation of federal roads within the state.

The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, admitted to this at the weekend but did not mention the actual amount refunded.

However, it was gathered that over N52 billion was allegedly being owed Lagos by the federal authorities, being the amount the state incurred on the rehabilitation of federal roads, especially under the previous administrations at federal and state levels.

The contentious amount had seen both governments trading words and arguing back and forth on the actual sum, with Lagos withdrawing from further interventions on federal roads within its jurisdiction.

Two different political parties were controlling both levels of government then. While the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had control of the federal, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a minority opposition party at the time, held sway in Lagos.

Gbenga Akintola, a former executive chairman of Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), had in 2011 said over 17 federal roads, most of which were in terrible state of disrepair, rehabilitated and maintained by Lagos State.

Akintola listed some of the roads to include Maryland to Ikorodu, Akpongbo, Ahmadu Bello to Bonny Camp, down to Barbeach, Osborne Road, Lagos-Badagry, Herbert Macaulay, Adeniji Adeile. Others included Herbert Macaulay to Ebute Meta, First Avenue in Festac Town, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Epe-Ijebu Ode Road, among others.

Ambode at the flag off of the reconstruction of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway by Babatunde Fashola, minister of works, power and housing, last weekend, admitted that the outstanding expenses on the federal roads had been refunded to Lagos.

“I want to thank the minister for ensuring the refund to the state government for some of the federal projects embarked upon,” Ambode, who added that his administration was in the process of utilising the refunded amount to deliver ongoing projects in the next few months, said.

The governor lauded the Federal Government for the commencement of the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway, saying the project would bring permanent relief to motorists and residents over the perennial gridlock in the axis and enhance movement within the state.

Credit: BusinessDay