THE Oyo State Government has urged the federal government to refund the sum of N32.9 billion which the state had spent on reconstruction and rehabilitation of some federal roads in the state, over the years.
Secretary to State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, on behalf of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, made this appeal when Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Suleiman Zarma led a delegation of the ministry to Governor’s office, Ibadan, for a courtesy visit.
The reimbursement being sought is for works done by administrations, even those predating Ajimobi’s, on about 13 roads to include those spanning Ojo-UI-Sango-Dugbe-Mokola-Parliament-Iwo Road-Wofun and in Saki area of the state.
This is as Ajimobi said roads in some parts of the state like Iseyin-Okeho, Iseyin-Baasi-Ago-Are, Oyo-Iseyin and Saki Polytechnic and Saki junction to Agric roads demanded federal government’s intervention.
He further called for speedy completion of the Lagos-Ibadan road under reconstruction as well as the Oyo-Ogbomosho road which he said, had claimed several lives.
Also, he asked that the federal government hand over the maintenance of all federal roads to the respective state governments with corresponding funding.
Ajimobi then reiterated the state government’s support for the National Housing Project currently under construction in Ogbomosho.
He gave the assurance that the state had approved the request of the Federal Ministry of Housing for more land for the construction of the second phase of the housing project.
Speaking, Zarma assured that the Federal Government was committed to completing road projects across the country, aimed at improving infrastructure and commercial activities.