I was misquoted on state of Nigerian roads – Fashola

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has denied the statement credited to him on the state of Nigerian roads where he reportedly said the roads are not as bad as being portrayed.

The minister claimed he never said the conditions of Nigerian roads are being exaggerated.

The former Lagos State governor denial followed the criticism that trailed the statement from Nigerians, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which asked him to resign from the position.

Fashola spoke with journalists after inaugurating some roads in Ilara Mokin town, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The roads were rehabilitated by an indigene of the town and founder of the Elizade University, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo.

The minister said he had travelled round the country on road to access condition of federal roads, adding that the Federal Government would fix all the bad roads based on priority.

Read also: #FasholaTakeTheRoadChallenge: We visited Warri-Sapele-Benin road; see what we found

He said: “Let me start from the journey by roads to the 36 states, 12 hours every day. So I know what I saw, and I also said what I wanted to say in that press conference and thankfully, I must thank the TV, at least, for showing the maturity and the professionalism to play the whole tape, so people can see the context of what I said.”

On the PDP call for his resignation, Fashola added: “I didn’t use the word ‘exaggerated.’ I didn’t say that and please go and listen to what I said thank you.”

Restating his earlier statement that the federal government would not refund any state that rehabilitated or reconstructed federal roads, the minister said the bills for road refund from state governments was N500billion, claiming that was on the high side.

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