The Federal Government may fund the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from either the recent N135.6bn virement proposal by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo or through a supplementary budget, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

It was also learnt that contractors handling the project were discouraged to continue on the site after the National Assembly reduced the amount allocated for the reconstruction of the road in the 2017 Appropriation Bill from N31.5bn to N10bn.

Our correspondent had reported exclusively that the contractor handling the project on the Lagos-lbadan dual carriageway, Section II, along Shagamu-Ibadan, suspended the reconstruction due to outstanding payment of N8.94bn.

Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited, had in a letter addressed to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and dated June 2, 2017, called the attention of the minister to the worsening financial situation of the project and pleaded for his intervention in order to ease the continuation of work on the site.

When contacted to state other options that the Federal Government would likely explore in order to fix the road, the minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, told our correspondent that the House of Representatives had expressed willingness to support Fashola, either through the virement or by supplementary budget.

Bello said, “The lawmakers had pledged to support the minister and promised to give him all that he needs to succeed in his work. Some of them were even saying there are opportunities for virement and supplementary budget,” Bello said.

Similarly, officials of the ministry told our correspondent on Saturday in Abuja that the reduction in the budgetary allocation for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, as well as other major infrastructure projects, had discouraged many contractors, as the firms demanded to know how the government would fund the projects.

A senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “The National Assembly actually reduced the budget and the contractors are saying they will stop working if there is no money.

“Anyway, if apology from the minister is what they (lawmakers) want, no problem. The main issue is for them to do what is right for Nigerians by allowing the budgetary allocation meant for these roads to pass."

http://punchng.com/fg-may-fund-lagos-ibadan-expressway-from-supplementary-budget

Why the noise initially?

ajbabs:
Why the noise initially?

For people like you that will call it corruption

Or that it wasn't appropriated in the 2017 budget

Is that clear now ?

But our selfish legislooters were the ones that slashed the budget.

Now we can see the damages done to our nationals infrastructure by the so call Red chambers.. When Fashiola took on them people were seen him as mere ranting minister.. Let's see he who laugh last..

Nigeria a country that budget implementation came almost at the middle f the year. all resources that has been allocated for core projects haven't been made available.

Why can't Lagos government fund this road