The Governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has said that states of the federation must look inward for their survival as funds coming to them from the federation account can no longer support their development projects.
Aregbesola said with Osun’s receipt of N55 million
for the month of September, the message was clear
that all avenues hitherto untapped must now be
examined in order to sustain development initiatives.
The Governor stated this at the commencement of
the reconstruction of Orita-Olaiya-Ita-Olokan Road at Olaiya Junction to commemorate the 5th year of the Aregbesola-led government in Osun.
The project is part of the designs to ensure smooth
transportation within the state capital, Osogbo.
He pointed out that money coming from the
Federation Account has dipped badly hence the need for people of the state to look inward in advancing the course of the state by returning to Agriculture.
He said, “We must at this point tell ourselves the
truth, there is no money coming from the federation
account, 34 million barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil are
on the sea without buyers.
“Money coming from the Federation Account has
dipped seriously and our hope for survival is in our
hands, what our forefathers lived on was agriculture.
“We must now go back to the farms and work. We
also need to pay our taxes so that government can
meet its responsibilities. For September, our state
got N55.8 million. The money we received cannot pay for the power supply by IBEDC that we use at the state Secretariat monthly”. The governor told people at the programme.
Advising people to adhere to town planning rules,
Aregbesola also added that the issue of separating
houses during road constructions and expansions
could have been avoided if there had been strict
adherence to town planning rules in the past.
He emphasised that his government regret and offer
sincere sympathy to those that will be affected with
the construction of the road which his administration is embarking on.
The Governor admonished those affected to see this
as their own sacrifice of the present administration’s
effort to enhance the status of our cities for better
living conditions of the generality of the people.
Aregbesola stated that Mess rs RATCON Construction Company Limited will be undertaking the reconstruction of the road at the cost of
N985,115,410.78 million.
He said, “The expansion of the road and the need to
have a reasonable setback unfortunately meant that
some buildings are already standing in the way and
has to be separated. This could have been avoided if
there had been strict adherence to town planning
rules in the past.
“We regret this and offer sincere sympathy to those
affected. They should see this as their own sacrifice
in our efforts to beautify our city and develop a decent human environment. Nevertheless, we have
set aside the sum of N392 million to the 127 people
whose buildings were affected”.
The Governor appealed to people of the state to bear with government on the pains and discomforts
associated with the road construction projects embarked upon, especially Gbongan-Akoda Road, noting that the delay was due to the unexpected
financial challenges that befell the nation.
He assured that all the projects embarked on by his
government will be completed before the end of the
present administration.
The Managing Director, Messrs RATCON Construction, Engr. Fouad Howayek held that
Aregbesola deserves commendation for the massive
on-going road construction works in the state.
He noted that RATCON has been partner with Osun
since the first term of Aregbesola’s administration in
the area of rehabilitation and construction of road
projects.
According to him, “This kind of unprecedented
achievement recorded in the last four years is an
attestation to the fact that Mr. Governor’s passion for the rapid development of the state is undisputed,” The RATCOM boss stated Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Nurudeen Adeagbo, stressed that the dual carriage way of Olaiya-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan spanning 2.8km forms the second phase of of on-going rehabilitation of selected roads in Osogbo
township.
He stated that the road could have been executed
along with others in the first phase if not for the
paucity of funds in the state, adding that a total of
N392 million will be required to pay compensation to people whose property will be affected by the
reconstruction.
Adeagbo said, “This road project is to be executed by Messrs RATCON Construction Company Ltd. The
company that handled the completion of 21 selected
Osogbo township roads totaling 26.69km and the on- going Bisi Akande trumpet road awarded at N29.22 billion”
