President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that all ongoing federal
projects in the South East will be funded, saying that the seven-month
delay in passing this year’s budget will not serve as an excuse.
The President gave the assurance during a meeting with South-East
Governors and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday
at State House, Abuja.
He pledged that the Federal Government would sustain the support to the South-East in terms of infrastructure.
‘‘I assure you that we are doing our best and will not default on the
agreements signed on ongoing projects,’’ the President told the
delegation, led by Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu.
He explained that part of the noticeable problems in the delay in the
execution of the capital projects was caused by the budget hold-up.
He said: ‘‘When you sign, and you don’t pay, they (contractors) can legally jerk up their costs. This is part of the problem.
‘‘The infrastructure budget is a deficit budget. The borrowing plan was
only approved three weeks ago and all ministers and departments of
government have been instructed to forge ahead. We must not find excuses
for delaying the projects.
‘‘Developing infrastructure is the best thing we can do. When the
roads are okay, the rails are established and there is power, Nigerians
will flourish in their businesses.’’
On the undulating surface of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport,
Enugu, the President assured that it would be addressed in the new
budget.
He also spoke of government’s serious interest in the new
Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri standard gauge railway which traverses several
states, including those in the South East.
President Buhari was accompanied to the meeting by the Secretary to the
Government, Boss Mustapha and some cabinet ministers, including that of
Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde
Fashola.
The president responded from point to point on all the issues raised by the governors, to their satisfaction.
The Minister of Transportation gave assurance that this project, the
single most costly rail project at 12 billion dollars, would soon be
coming to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The Ministers were directed to follow up with the private sector on
key projects in the region, including the South East Dry Port and the
Geometric Power Plant in Aba, to untangle the problems causing their
delayed take-off.
On behalf of the Governors, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi said they came
specifically to thank the President for the award of the contract for
the major component of the second Niger Bridge at the cost of N206
billion.
‘‘The project is the dream of our people and it has become a dream
come true. Our people said we must come and thank you. Your Excellency,
Mr President we are grateful Sir,’’ he said.
While enumerating some challenges confronting the Governors to the
President, Umahi said: ‘‘out of mutual respect, we have come to you as a
caring leader to listen to us.’’
Other governors on the delegation were Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Ifeanyi
Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr
Nkem Okeke.