Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola Tuesday appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on abandoned Federal Government’s Projects (Works) from 1999 till date, and insisted that there was no abandoned project in the sector.
A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press at the ministry, Mr Stephen Kilebi, quoted Fashola as calling for a stronger collaboration with the National Assembly for the completion of all on-going projects.
The Minister said one of the mandates of President Muhammadu Buhari was to complete all projects inherited from the previous administrations.
He stated, “It is the government policy to ensure that we complete as many projects as possible. Unlike in the past, this government has focused on completing projects.
“No project has been abandoned, but we have some projects where works is delayed due to contractors having issues with the local communities as well as payment of outstanding debt.”
He also identified security, contracts review cost due to time lapse and weather as some of the factors responsible for the delay in the completion of on-going projects.
On funding, he disclosed that the ministry got only N18bn when he first assumed office in 2015 which was not enough to complete one major road in Nigeria.
“Now, there is a distinction we have increased the budget to roughly about N300bn, but we still can’t fund the N300bn,”he said.
Fashola also called for adequate budget appropriation, releases and collaboration with the National Assembly in the areas of funding and prioritization of projects for implementation.
“Our revenue is not growing with the same size as our projects, so we need to prioritize our projects by laying emphasis on the A1- A4 projects that would be of benefits to our people,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Honourable Francis Uduyok said the essence of the interaction was not to witch-hunt any ministry or person but to investigate Federal Government abandoned projects from 1999 till date.
He also stated that they were to evaluate and determine the cost of completion of the projects, make appropriate recommendations for their completion in the annual budgets.
He said they will be able to access the viability of the projects and their benefits to Nigerians.
Uduyok commended the minister for his elaborate presentation to the committee.
The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu and some directors of the ministry accompanied Fashola to the interactive session.
