LAGOS PROJECTS: Ambode got it wrong, Fashola replies

Former Lagos State governor and current Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has described as mis-statements, the accusation by Lagos State government that he is frustrating projects in the state.

Governor Akinwumi Ambode had on Wednesday accused Fashola’s works ministry of refusing to allow the state government rebuild the Oshodi road that leads to the Lagos Airport.

He also frowned that the ministry under the former governor of Lagos State, is yet to allow a proper handover of the Presidential Lodge in Lagos to the state government as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

But in his reaction on Thursday, Fashola, in a statement by his spokesperson, Hakeem Bello, denied the allegation and said he was only responding to it in order to “ensure that members of the public are not misled by deliberate or inadvertent mis-statements” by Governor Ambode.

He said that the ministry has already presented the memorandum conveying the request of the Lagos State government to the Federal Executive Council.

As for the issue of the Presidential Lodge, Fashola said the matter is under the management of the Presidency and not Works Ministry.

The statement read, “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has been drawn to certain statements credited to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode claiming that the ‘Federal Ministry of Works’ has been frustrating the efforts of his administration to carry out a ‘total reconstruction of the International Airport Road from Oshodi.’

“The Governor also reportedly accused the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Security Services of denying the state government access to the Presidential Lodge in Lagos six months after President Muhammadu Buhari approved it off for the state.

“This response is to ensure that members of the public are not misled by deliberate or inadvertent mis-statements.

“The allegations of lack of cooperation from the Ministry and frustration of Lagos State government development initiatives are simply not true and the facts do not bear them out.

“As far as International Airport Road which is currently the ground for alleged ‘frustration’ is concerned, the correct position is that the Lagos State government presented a request for four roads that it would wish to take over.

Read also: Ambode unhappy Fashola’s ministry is frustrating Lagos projects

“This is consistent with the position being canvassed by the Hon Minister for States who are interested to apply to take over roads that are within their states.

“The ministry has presented the Memorandum conveying the request of the Lagos State government to the Federal Executive Council as was done with a similar request by the Kaduna State government in 2016.

“Due to the fact that two of the roads also connect Ogun State, the Federal Executive Council could not reach an immediate decision on them because it requested the input of the other state government affected.

“As far as the Presidential Lodge is concerned, it is under the management of the Presidency and not the Ministry. After the approval by Mr President that the Presidential Lodge be handed over to the State government, there was a directive to the Ministry to work out the modalities for handing over.

“The ministry has prepared a vesting instrument to convey the transfer and all that is needed is a survey plan. The Presidential Lodge is a high security location and officials of the Ministry also require security clearance to enter in order to do any works.”

Ambode is the immediate successor of Fashola as Lagos State governor.

 

 

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