FG To Verify Claims On Federal Roads

The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bashir Yuguda, said that the Federal Government has set up a committee to look into ‘claims’ of state governments’ expenditure on federal roads.

Yuguda also called for more collaboration with the Lagos State Government in ensuring that federal roads in the state were not overtaken by traders and artisans.

The minister said this during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-adefulire recently in Ikoyi, Lagos.

He said that such collaboration was necessary to protect the public’s right of way in the use of roads in the state.

He said that clearing those roads of illegal occupants had become “a big challenge”.

“The challenge we have in Lagos is people who feel our right of way is their rightful place and home.

“We need the support of the State Government to clear these roads as we cannot do it forcefully.

“They are becoming a place for all kinds of activities”, Yuguda said.

According to him, the Federal Government attached a lot of importance to those roads.

The minister said that those claiming to have authority to occupy those roads were doing so fraudulently.

Yuguda said that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was active in the state.

He added that all authentic projects claimed to have been done by various states would be paid for, based on set guidelines.

“A committee has been set up to verify all the claims and there are guidelines”, the minister said.

In her response, the deputy governor said that it was desirable for a joint committee, comprising both the state and the Federal Government, to be set up to eject those illegal traders and artisans.

She, however, urged the Federal Government to build more roads in the state and maintain existing ones.

“Infrastructure development must be renewed, due to the influx of people to the state.

“And we expect that more attention need to be given to this state to complement our efforts in road maintenance”, Orelope-Adefulire said.