FG to reinburse road projects done by Kebbi State – Engr Aliyu

Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu has assured Kebbi State government that the Federal Government would reimburse monies they spent for the execution of Federal Government’s road projects in the state.

The Minister gave the assurance over the weekend when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Kebbi State Abubakar Bagudu

Aliyu told the Governor that they were in the state to verify claims for reimbursement submitted by Kebbi State Government for the roads

“We are here for the verification and after that, we are going to report back to the main Committee and I believe it will be favourable,” he assured the Governor.

The visit was sequel to the directives of Mr. President to the Inter-Ministerial Committee to review the requests from states seeking reimbursement for the road projects executed by them.

The Committee had earlier inspected the two selected road projects built by the Kebbi State government that were slated for reimbursement.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government had made reimbursements of N477 billion to twenty five states in the years between 2018 and 2019 based on the recommendation of the Inter –Ministerial Committee.

Similarly, another disbursement of N143 billion was made to additional five states by the Federal Government in October 2019.

Accordingly, the Minister disclosed that  based on the recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the President had approved on the 17th May, 2021, additional new requests for disbursements for Yobe, Taraba and Kebbi States.

Kebbi State Government is seeking reimbursement for the construction of Melando-Garin Baka-Ngaski Wara and Dabai-Mahuta-koko federal road projects.

The State was claiming about N2bn reimbursement for the 87km long Dabai-Mahuta-Koko road, which the Minister said, was why the committee came to verify.

“We are here today to verify the claims by the state and get back to the Committee,” he said.

Responding, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagugu commended the federal government for the bold step it has taken in refunding States the monies spent in executing Federal Government road projects.

The Governor said that the debt of over 500 billion Naira paid by this administration were inherited debts.

“Yes, we are one of the states that have done federal government roads. I am happy that you have come to verify our claims and we shall be grateful if your report will lead to refund so that we will do more,” he said.

Speaking further, he commended Federal Government for completing the Sokoto/Tambuwa/Kontogora road, saying that  the road was one of the most important roads and one of the numerous uncompleted road inherited by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The road does not only link us with the Federal Capital Territory, but also serves as our main gateway to Lagos” he said.

On the two roads executed by the State, the Governor said that they would enhance economic activities of the State as both roads serve  as major links for evacuation of farm and animal produce of the communities along the corridors.

“The road passes through a vast area of farm lands and many farming communities of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States will benefit from it,” he said.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee has the Minister of Works and Housing as the Chairman and the members include; Ministers of Transportation, Education, Finance, Works and housing (State), as well as the Permanent Secretaries of Works and Housing and that of the Cabinet Office and the Director, Bureau of Public Procurement.

The Committee’s delegation to Kebbi State for the verification was led by the Honourable Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, and the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).