East-West road is the responsibility of Niger-Delta ministy- Fashola
Ene Ikpa
The Honourable minster of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola said the east- west road is the responsibility of the ministry of Niger-Delta.
Fashola made this known at the meeting of the coalition of south-south chamber of Commerce, industry,mines& Agriculture (FOSSCCIMA) in Abuja.
The president of FOSSCCIMA Chief Emma Avworo in his statement said the the coalition of south-south chambers of commerce, industry mines and Agriculture is the umbrella body of the chamber’s of commerce in the south-south region of Nigeria , namely Edo,Delta,Bayelsa,Rivers ,Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, consisting of the core private sector operators in these states. Our main objective is to grow our businesses and the economy of the region and Nigeria in general.
While congratulating the minister on his re-appointment, he appealed to him to use his God given position to set an agenda for the infrastructural development of the south -south states , which according to him , if done will not only boost the industrial growth of the region but also of the nation, as growth in one region will definitely affect the other regions in terms of job creation and economic impact.
Mr Avworo pointed out the areas in which the action of the Minister will impact as in road maintenance and the construction of the Lagos -Benin expressway including the Benin bypass, the east-west road that needs completion, the warri- Benin expressway is impassible .
He said the condition of these roads has taken a toll on the businesses in the south -south and appeal for an urgent intervention to be taken on the repairs of the roads.
“Another area that requires intervention is the area of Housing . In several states in the south-south, abandoned Federal government housing projects abound, and urged him to look into it with the view of reviving them.
Fashola in his response , says every state has a controller of works and a controller of Housing and the roads and housing are their responsibilities.
He the group to use them before escalating things to the headquarters.
“There’s no state in the south-south where the ministry is not building road’s, bridges including maintenance and university intervention where internal road works are going on.
According to the minister Ewu and sapele Bonny bridge cost about 120 billion naira.
Calling on partnership between the association and the Federal government, Fashola charged FOSSCCIMA on the need to work closely with their states government who is also committed to housing and since the Federal government will not provide housing but will collaborate with cooperative societies .
The societies must have lands,tittles, registered trustee’s who can stand for them and they must want to develop the lands .
With the copy of their title deeds the ministry will help them gain access to housing development loans which will be built at their pace, “we will help with infrastructure that will add value to their lands .when the assets become more valuable it eliminates poverty”.
