Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has said his administration is not intervening on federal government failed roads for refund but for the safety of Deltans and motorists plying the roads.
Okowa said this in Asaba, state capital while responding to statement credited to the Minister for Works and Housing, Babatude Fashola on the issue of refund.
According to him, “Why we seek federal government permission to fix these roads is to avoid what happened last year when we wanted to fix the Asaba-Onitsha road. So, this time we sought the clearance, and they gave us a go ahead.
“Truly the projects is deeply eating into our treasury but we have no option because our people are suffering and the economic activities of the state are been affected.
“Not really because we are looking for refund. We have problem with FG to fix the Asaba end of the bridge head last year. This is to reduce the pain of the our people and boost the economy of the state.
“You notice that the Benin-Sapele-Warri road has been grounded the economic activities of the state, so it became important to intervene not because we have the money but to ensure that our people feel government impact.
“If the FG says they cannot refund is because it is not capture in the budget. FG says they cannot refund, what do will do, we can’t fold our hands and seeing people dying, properties destroying as a result of bad road. It is let for state to intervene or not.”
The governor, however, urged the federal government to take steps in ensuring that these roads constructed over 20 years ego are reconstructed to ease the sufferings of the citizens.
