Fashola Describes State Of Nigerian Roads, Says It Isn’t As Bad As People Say

Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, has said the state of Nigerian roads are been exaggerated as they are not bad as they are portrayed to be.

Fashola said this while addressing the state house correspondents yesterday in Abuja, after the federal executive council meeting.

The former Lagos state governor said most road projects in the country would have been completed but for funding challenges.

“The roads are not as bad as they are often portrayed. I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad,” he said.

The minister clarified that whenever he announces that a particular amount was approved for a contract, it doesn’t mean the amount has been paid.

He further noted that the fiscal challenges been faced by the country is been escalated by the minister of finance, different arms of government.

He said “You are also mindful that the last few budgets in Nigeria for almost 20 years have been deficit budgets and these are terminologies that are realities and I think we should acquaint ourselves with if we are not just to report the news but also educate the public.

“You must also be aware that between awarding a contract and also mobilizing to the site there is a distance. First of all, we have to have an agreement that is the relationship between the ministry of works or any other ministry and the ministry of justice, then there is a role that banks play, they have to give a guarantee.

“Building materials – rocks, laterite, quarry, iron rods have to be ordered, construction companies don’t keep them.

“The process of producing blasting rocks requires approval from the office of ministers of justice and even the office of the NSA to get approval to get dynamite. All of these are the things that go on. So the point that I am making to you is that there is a distance between approval, implementation, actual construction, and the result.”

Fashola further said road construction projects will be continued when the rains are over.