Oyetola to Fed Govt: declare state of emergency on infrastructure

Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has advised the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on infrastructure across the country.

He spoke when he received the Minister of State for Works and Housing during the weekend, Abubakar Aliyu and his team at the Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo during a two-day working visit to inspect road projects.

The governor said: “When it comes to the issue of infrastructure, particularly road, the Federal Government needs to declare a state of emergency to achieve more.

“I appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to improving the infrastructure and I want to also call for alternative funding for road projects. Private organisations should partner the government to build roads.”

He hailed former governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration for his steps to develop the state’s roads during his tenure.

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Aliyu, an engineer, who had inspected the Gbongan/Akoda road project, expressed satisfaction about the ongoing federal road projects undertaken by the Osun State Government.

He said: “We are here to inspect the Federal Government works undertaken by the Osun State Government. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing recently inaugurated a committee headed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to verify Federal Government’s projects undertaken by the state government.

“We can see that the projects in Osun are ongoing and I can express satisfaction about the way the works are being handled. I saw a well-constructed bridge at Gbongan and so far, with what I have seen, I think the state deserves commendation.”

The minister added: “The President Buhari administration is committed to improving road infrastructures across the country. Currently, over 500 road projects are ongoing in the country and more will still be recorded before his tenure ends.

“The 2020 budget prioritizes construction that is up to 75 percent to 80 percent completion. This is so because we are determined to deliver them before the year runs out.”

He urged Nigerians to join the government in maintaining the infrastructures provided at their disposal at every point in time.

“We need to own our country. The way we take care of our houses and properties is the way we should be concerned about infrastructure across the country,” Aliyu said.