Although the Cross-River Government claimed it spent N13 billion on the rehabilitation of federal roads in the last seven years, it might not get refunds because it failed to follow guidelines.
?Mr Chinwuba Agbara, Federal Controller of Works in Cross River, stated the position in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
The Cross River Commissioner for Works, Mr Legor Idagbo, had told NAN that the state government spent the sum in repairing the roads following the lukewarm attitude of Federal Government agencies over the poor state of the roads.
Idagbo said that the state government was worried that the federal agencies in-charge of the roads seemed unperturbed about their deplorable state and therefore decided to rehabilitate them.
He said the state government expected refunds from the Federal Government for the job it did.
But Agbara said the state could not be reimbursed because it did not meet the guidelines.
?‘’ If they can follow the guidelines, they are very sure that whatever they spent on that road will be reimbursed.
“If they have spent N13 billion on the road and the roads are not in order that means they have not been following the guidelines.
“Otherwise the road will be motorable by now and be in a perfect condition.
“That is why they should follow the guideline so that whatever they spend will be seen by the road users.
“They have to write through my office to the Minister of Works seeking approval for intervention on federal roads and the minister will also intimate the Presidency that the state wants to do this.
“And if they have presidential approval, they can be sure that every financial year there will be supervision for the particular job under the state.
“They should also make sure that there is joint supervision. These are the terms; they should be carrying the federal works along,’’ he said.
Agbara, however, said that the Federal Ministry of Works had instructed the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to start palliative work on Odukpani Road.
“We have instructed FERMA to go and do palliative work at the Odukpani Road,’’ he said.
Agbara, however, said that SERMATECH Construction Company was on ground for intervention on behalf of the Cross River Government.
“But they have complained of not normalising their contract agreement with the state government.
“I am very worried about the road and I can’t sleep that is why I have written many memos and the Federal Government is doing everything to make the road motorable
“Very soon the result of the memos will materialise,
“I am very worried because that is the road that transports all the raw materials from Cross River to other neighbouring states,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the poor state of some portions of the road at Odukpani axis and flooding have resulted to disruptions in vehicular movement in the area for many days.?
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