The Federal Government has banned states from intervening in Federal Government owned roads irrespective of their deplorable condition.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, gave this indication while giving details of what transpired at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, at the State House, Abuja.

He, however, gave the impression that demands by states for refund after intervention may have spurred council to approve the decision for states to desist from such intervention.

But FEC approved that three states, Kebbi, Taraba and Yobe, be refunded the amount spent on repairing federal roads in their domains, especially as such contracts were awarded prior to the inception of the current administration.

The latest directive from the presidency comes as many federal roads are in deplorable conditions across the country owing partly to the rainy seasons and heavy duty vehicles plying such roads.

Beyond this directive, Fashola said contract was awarded for the reconstruction of the Mushin-NNPC-Apapa-Oshodi road, the road that goes through Isolo to Ejigbo, at the sum of N11,166,270,197.85 to Strabic Construction Company, with a completion period of 20 months.

Commenting on the ban, he said, “Council approved the report and recommendation of a Council committee set up by the president in order to respond to demands by state governments for refunds on intervention made previously before this administration on federal roads”.

Fashola explained that the president subsequently issued the directive that there should be no more intervention by states on federal roads.

“There were some that had been done before the life of this administration. So there were three states, Kebbi, Yobe and Taraba. I think on the 22nd of June, I reported that the claims for Yobe for N18.663 billion were approved. That left for those of Kebbi and Taraba states. So today council approved N6.706 billion for Kebbi State and N2.470 billion for Taraba State.

“The Council also approved that the road under construction by Taraba State for which this reimbursement is being made that the contract by the state government should not be terminated. That is a section between Bali and Ceti. This is because you will recall last year that council had approved the full reconstruction of Bali, Ceti to Kimbu under the NNPC tax credit scheme.

“This is a better designed road than the one that has a laterite base currently being constructed by the Taraba State government. But because there was an existing approval given before the life of this administration, we will refund up to this last reform. But we will not refund anymore, we’re going to reconstruct the road. So I just thought it was important to make that clarification. We have a full construction now, instead of part construction that the Taraba State was undertaking.

“Another interesting thing to note about these reforms is that they relate to debts and obligations incurred by the previous administration before the life of this administration. So this is also part of the national debt. So the process of payment requires the Ministry of Finance subsequent to this approval now, to go to the National Assembly, to get approval to raise debt to secure payment to the states. I think it’s important to note that when we’re having conversation about the national debt, these are some of the components that were inherited debts that this government is also paying for infrastructure.

“The last point to note is that this is a bipartisan approval, irrespective of party affiliations, all of the states who submit, who met the conditions, who showed documentation benefited, as you will see Taraba, Kebbi and Yobe are certainly bipartisan in their political affiliations. And you will see that previously, when I came here, we had reported refunds to states like our Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, and Osun I believe, at the time.

“So, it has gone on like this and the total amount now the first tranche was about N700 billion for 24 states. I think we then reported about another N120 something billion, for five states. So now this is a total of N18.6 billion plus N6.7 billion, that’s about N25 billion, roughly about 2.5. About N27 billion or thereabout, if you add it up, again, so is nearing a trillion very progressively and as part of the public debt that we’re talking about”.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, has disclosed plans by the administration to procure surveillance equipment for the Abuja light rail train service at a cost of N718.19 million.

The approval which is in two phases was secured at the Federal Executive Council meeting.

He said, “FEC approved Messrs. Halali Security Guards Limited and Messrs. Seaguard Security and Protective Company Limited. They are going to provide security to the entire 45 kilometers of track including 12 stations. These security services are meant to protect the key infrastructure on the rail tracks, the signaling and communication equipment as well as the electrical system.

“Halali Security Guards Limited is going to secure 27.4 kilometers of the track, covering eight stations at the cost of N407,214,000 over a two-year period, while Seaguard Securities and Protective Company Limited is going to secure 18 kilometers of the rail tracks including four railway stations and that is at a cost of N310,979,250”.

FG Discloses Why Abuja-Kaduna Train Services Won’t Commence Now

Again, there are indications that the Federal Government is at crossroads on the resumption of train services, particularly, along the Abuja-Kaduna route.

Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, on Wednesday, gave this indications when he said it would be insensitive to the plight of families whose loved ones are still in captivity, if the government recommences the Abuja-Kaduna train services for now.

He said the government is looking at the best options in terms of surveillance including concessioning it in a public-private partnership arrangement.

The minister bared his mind while briefing correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fielding questions on suspension of service following the March 2022 attack on the train, he remarked that two core matters remain at the heart of the Abuja-Kaduna train services.

According to him, these include families traumatised over their members still in captivity of terrorists and the need to have surveillance facilities to monitor the tracks.

Commenting on a definite timeline when the initiative would be executed, Muazu said: “If I give a timeline, I’ll be lying to you. It will be insensitive to restart the service if some families weep day and night over their members still in the bush.”

He said the government is mindful of the cost involved but should be able to report definite progress in about a month time.

Recall that passengers on board the Abuja-Kaduna bound train had come under attacks from terrorists leading to the death of eight persons and over 50 abductees. Though half of the passengers abducted have regained their freedom, family members of the victims have forbidden the Federal Government to recommence the train services unless all the captives are released.

Meanwhile, following presentations at the FEC, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the purview of Sadiya Umar got approximately N43.4 billion to construct a number of roads in the North destroyed as a result of insurgency.

Today, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development presented to council on behalf of the North-East Development Commission four memos.

The roads in question cut across construction, reconstruction for five states of the North-East region, namely Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi. For Borno, there are 22.5-kilometer road that is to be reconstructed, specifically Ngon-Koshode and Ngon-Dosmari-Zabamari-Kongologo-Kajari road with the contract sum of N13,553,902,668.95.

Mrs. Umar explained that the second contract involves the reconstruction of 53-Kilometer Gombe-Abba to Kriffy Road in Gombe and Bauchi states in the contract sum of N11,697,355,449.61.

She said, “The other road is the 54-kilometer Mutai in Gudal Road in Yobe State with the contract sum of N12,199,182,845.70.

“The fourth one is the one for Adamawa State, Garkida road, it has a contract sum of N6,202,214,413.29 inclusive of 7.5 VAT. Garkida road in Adamawa State is located at the fringes of the Sambisa forest.

“All these roads are being taken into consideration and selected in conjunction with the state governments and other critical stakeholders. These roads are expected to stimulate our economic activities, enhance security and facilitate the freer movement of goods and people in these affected states within the zone.

“The ministry also is in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Housing and in the co-funding of various roads in the North-East region….This is to address issues of rebuilding, reconstructing, rehabilitating, reintegrating the people of the North-East who have been affected by the insurgency.

“We are also in partnership and collaboration with the Nigerian Society of Engineers in the area of engaging reputable local consultants for the design and supervision of the major works in line with the executive order five for promoting local content in science, engineering, and technology.

“All the four memos were considered and graciously approved by council”.(Daily Independent)

Update news