Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, explained the reasons that President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to award contracts as well as borrow despite having just a few days left until the end of his tenure.
According to Fashola, the tenure of the Buhari-led administration will officially wind down at midnight on May 28, hence most of the projects embarked on must be funded, particularly that governance must be up and running till the president’s last day in office.
The former Lagos State Governor disclosed this while flagging off the dualisation of the Akure-Ado highway, which has for years been in a deplorable state. While stressing that infrastructural development can only be actualised through borrowing or taxation, Fashola stated that the project, which will cost N90 billion, will be taken care of by NNPCL through the tax credit policy of the federal government.
With the project awarded to Samchase Nigeria Ltd. and Kopeck Construction Company slated for completion within the next 24 months, the Minister disclosed that lies had been peddled against him over the delay of the project, which was earlier awarded to Dantata and Saowe Construction Firm.
He said: “People are asking why we are still awarding contracts when we have just a few days to go. Should we stop this road now and wait for the next government? It is a juvenile conversation. They forgot, among other things, that the term of this administration ends at midnight on May 28.
“This road really represents the paradox about governance, about roads, and about public debts. This is the real story. The work looks easy from the outside, but one decision leads to other consequences. But we have now given you contractors who have worked with you.
“All kinds of stories have been told about me, but none of them bother me. They just dedicate me to my job and tell me to do it as best I can. All lies have been published that Fashola does not like Ekiti and Ondo States. That is absolute nonsense.
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