Fashola on defensive mode over statement on roads

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has reacted to the media attacks on him over a statement credited to him where he was quoted that Nigerian roads were not as has bad as being reported.

Fashola who spoke over the weekend during his visit to Ondo State to inaugurate some road projects funded by Chief Micheal Ade-Ojo, popularly known as Elizade in Ifedore local government area of the state stated that he was misquoted, noting that he never used the word ‘exaggerated.’

On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, the Minister while speaking with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting was reported to have said that Nigerian roads were not as deplorable as the public have made them to look.

“The roads are not as bad as they are often portrayed. I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad.”

However, speaking at Ilara-mokin, the Works Minister disclosed that contrary to insinuations on social media, he had travelled round the country on roads to access the condition of federal roads.

According to him, the federal government would fix bad roads based on priority list.

His words, “Let me start from the journey by roads to the 36 states, 12 hours everyday, so I know what I saw, and I also said what I wanted to say in that press conference.

“I didn’t use the word ‘exaggerated’, I didn’t say that and please go listen to what I say, thank you,” Fashola said.

He added that the federal government would not refund any state that rehabilitates or reconstructs federal roads, stressing that the bill for road refund from state governments was on the high side, amounting to #500 billion.

Meanwhile, Fashola had earlier commissioned about six kilometres road network constructed by the Founder of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Chief Ade-Ojo. The roads are Ikota-Ilara Mokin road and two Ilara township roads.

He urged affluent Nigerians to emulate the great initiative of Chief Ade-Ojo who had singlehandedly developed his community with his personal wealth.

On his own part, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo hinted that he founded Elizade University and constructed some Ilara-Mokin township roads and to neighbouring towns like Ikota to immortalize his late wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Wuraola Ade-Ojo.