FG seeks additional N24bn for Kaduna-Kano federal roads

Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing has solicited for the support of the National Assembly to appropriate the sum of N24 billion for the rehabilitation of Kaduna-Kano federal highway.

Fashola’s request came on the heel of the investigative hearing initiated by the Ad-hoc Committee on alleged ‘breach of privilege, violation of Appropriation Act and incitement of the Nigerian public’ against the National Assembly, chaired by Ali Madaki.

The Minister who cleared the misconceptions about the allegations, affirmed that the National Assembly plays a major role in the budget process.

He however maintained that the procedure adopted by the Parliament by unilaterally inserting some of the ‘constituency projects’ into the Ministry’s budget, will in no small way stalled the actuaklisation of the three-year plan to complete major federal road projects including the 2nd Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan expressway and Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa roads which links the Kaduna refinery and Trans-Saharan route, which Mr. President mandated him to prioritise.

The Minister who described by the lawmakers as ‘Prime Minister’ under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, however apologized for the perceived inciting statement and breach of Legislative Powers and Privilege Act, saying: “My statements were not intended to disparage the National Assembly. But if, any offence was taken, I apologise.”

Fashola who highlighted some of the constraints posed by the drastic reduction in the amount proposed for the road projects and power projects, disclosed that Federal Government’s 3-year plan to build and rehabilitate roads, especially those used to move petroleum products and agricultural produce.

He specifically frowned at the statement credited to Abdulrazak Namdas, chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, that he was ‘untruthful’ about some funds released for specific projects but were refunded in the 2016 budget.

Fashola who remained calm althrough the interactive session, disclosed that no fund was released for the Second Niger Bridge due to dwindling government’s revenue, hence the ongoing move to boost revenue sources through increase in taxes, oil revenue and non-oil sector.

Specifically he said the insertions  made by the National Assembly stalled government’s plan to rehabilitate 63 roads in 34 states.

“During the 2016 budget, N40 billion was appropriated for that road (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway), but we released a total of N28.625 billion to the two contractors.

“As at the end of the 2016 budget, the total amount of outstanding certificates owed the contractors was N13.1 billion. The proposal for the 2017 budget was N31 billion but the appropriation was N10 billion.

“So about 60 percent of the allocation for the road has been take off and I have shown that we are already owing the contractors N13 billion, so no reasonable work can be done,” he said.

Fashola had criticised the National Assembly for slashing N21 billion out of the sum of N31 billion proposed for the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and cutting off, N5 billion from the Second Niger Bridge.

The Minister who disclosed that the contract for the Second Niger Bridge was awarded without any drawing and requisite procurement by the immediate past administration, which unilaterally picked contractors, however noted that all the anomalies have been corrected by the current administration.
The National Assembly in response accused the Minister of misleading Nigerians.The House also alleged that Fashola requested for the inclusion of an omnibus allocation of N20 billion to the budget of his ministry without details on what it was meant for.

While reacting to Fashola’s submission, the lawmakers including: Edward Pwajok (APC-Plateau) reminded Fashola that as chairman of the House Committee on Media, Namdas spoke on behalf the institution he represents.

In his remarks,  Aliyu Madaki admonished the minister that as high a ranking government official, he must be temperate with his words.

He explained that the Committee’s assignment was aimed at ascertaining the “correct position of the law regarding the [powers of Parliament in passing the national budget? Has the Parliament the right to either add to or reduce from the figures as proposed by the Executive.

“What was the budget proposal as it relates to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, how much was reduced from that budget proposal, why was the reduction made, and what was the reduced fund allocated for? The past and present status of the reconstruction works on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway viz-a-viz budgetary allocations in 2016 and 2017. What is the Ministry’s relationship with Motorways Assets Limited (a company that Federal Government owns substantial shares in) regarding Lagos-Ibadan expressway?”

In response to the question on the Federal Government’s relationship with Motorways Assets Limited, Fashola disclosed that he got to know about the company on resumption of duty as Minister adding that he advised Mr. President against private capital on most of the federal roads because of the previous incapacity they have displayed and series of litigation.

He however noted that despite recent efforts by the two companies that requested for the sum of N60 billion to complete the road project within two years, only N28 billion was appropriated, adding that work was ongoing simultaneously on Ogbomoso-Ilorin -Jebba road.

He noted that request by Motorways Assets Limited to refinance the project, has been sent to Federal Ministry of Finance, hence there might be need for supplementary budget for the road.

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja