Anenih, others for probe - Over N1 trillion spent on roads
Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 06.07.2007

THE battle between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Tony Anenih has shifted to the Senate with the upper chamber launching a probe of Anenih’s tenure as works minister.


The tenures of both Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Chief Cornelius Adebayo, who succeeded Chief Anenih, are also under scrutiny by the Senate.


Both Obasanjo and Anenih are locked in a war over the control of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Yar’Adua presidency.


The situation got to a head when Anenih supported and mobilised Senator George Akume for the Senate presidency contrary to the party’s position that Senator David Mark should be the senate president.


The next phase of the confrontation commenced on Thursday when the Senate passed a resolution mandating its Committee on Works to probe the spending of the budget of the Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).


While adopting a motion moved by Senator Eze Ayogu, supported by the Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, and Senators Osita Izunaso, Sylvester Anyanwu, Anthony Agbo, Ehigie Uzamere, Ahmed Lawal, Grace Bent, Umar Tafida-Argungu, Otaru Ohize and Ibrahim Ida, the Senate noted that not less than N1 trillion was appropriated to the ministry in the last eight years.


The Senate, therefore, mandated its committee to probe the activities of the ministry, adding that the funds appropriated for road construction and rehabilitation in the past eight years were not properly utilised.


Over N1 trillion is said to have been appropriated for road maintenance in Nigeria from 1999 till the end of the last administration.


During the eight-year period, Chief Tony Anenih, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Chief Cornelius Adebayo headed the Ministry of Works, which also controls the activities of FERMA.


The Senate also mandated its committee to produce data for future legislative action, while also directing the committee to liaise with appropriate government agencies to ensure rehabilitation and completion of abandoned and ongoing road projects in the country.


Senator Eze, while moving the motion, said the collapse of road infrastructure in Nigeria had led to loss of lives, adding that the nation lost no fewer that 17,000 lives on a yearly basis.


The Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, who also spoke on the motion, said that the Senate should investigate “the reasons why such huge investments in the sector have yielded no result.”


Senator Smart Adeyemi, while contributing, said: “In Nigeria when roads are constructed, which are supposed to last for at least 30 years, within six months of construction, you have potholes in Nigerian roads. We should look at the rate projects are awarded in Nigeria.”


Also contributing to the motion on Thursday, Senator Lee Maeba said: “It is regrettable that at this time of our history, we are still talking about roads. The problem is not about design. The designs are okay, but we have unpatriotic engineers around. We have so many construction companies in this country.


“FERMA has failed because we charged them with something more than their ability. They cannot maintain roads that have totally collapsed. This is the time we should look at other sources of transportation.


“The pressure has been on roads because we have not developed other sources. There must be a consistent road policy that will survive many administrations,” he added.


The Senate then resolved to adopt two resolutions, which mandated the Committee on Works, “when constituted, to embark on audit of all road projects in Nigeria with a view to producing the raw data for further necessary legislative action.”

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http://www.tribune.com.ng/06072007/news/news1.html

The funny thing is all this useless senators will shut up when given kickbacks of 100 Million each.  That will be the end of this saga

Mamajama:

The funny thing is all this useless senators will shut up when given kickbacks of 100 Million each. That will be the end of this saga

I hope not.

if OBJ spent that much on roads, there's really nothing to show for it and i'm afraid he's failed woefully in this area among others. we have no roads!!!