
ENUGU, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Enugu State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a motion appealing to the Federal Government to reimburse the sum of N25.9bn spent in rehabilitating federal roads in the state.
The motion, sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, representing Nsukka East Constituency and 18 others, was seconded by Hon. Elochukwu Ugwueze, representing Igbo-Eze South.
Nwamba, while moving the motion, stated that the request was not out of place since such exercise has taken place in some other states in Nigeria, such as Anambra and Gombe.
He noted that money spent on those roads could have been directed to the development of other spheres in the state.
“Its non-reimbursement has actually hampered the development of other sectors like agriculture, commerce, industry, education, tourism, among others.
“We are constrained to make this appeal after waiting for about two years in which the roads were rehabilitated without any reimbursement from the Federal Government despite series of efforts and appeals put in place from different quarters,” Nwamba added.
He recalled that the state government’s past efforts to ensure the refund necessitated the setting up of a monitoring and verification committee by the then Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen.
The road projects, which were embarked upon by the administration of former Governor Sullivan Chime, include New Market Roundabout to Agu Abor interchange, Enugu Abakiliki Dual Carriageway, 9th Mile- Ngwo-Milken Hill-New Market Road and reconstruction/ rehabilitation of 9th Mile-Udi-Oji River- Ugwuoba-Anambra State border, among others.
Credit: National Mirror (Nigeria)