Security: FG May Relocate Housing Project In Ekiti- Fashola
The Minister of Housing, Power and Works, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, said his ministry might consider relocating the the ongoing National Housing project in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The former Lagos State Governor who expressed dissatisfaction with the location slammed the controller of Works in the State for approving the location without considering its proximity to the capital city and the security of prospective occupants when completed.
The minister who visited the housing project which is under construction alongside Governor Ayodele Fayose and the Works’ Commissioner, Mrs Funmi Ogun, said the housing estate located along Ado –Iworoko road , was not befitting due to lack of adequate security .
While at the housing estate being constructed by Minosa Nigeria Limited and Ado-Ikere-Akure federal road being constructed by the state government for inspection, Fashola described the controller as failing to deploy professionalism in siting the estate.
The controller , however, said he made frantic efforts to seek audience with Governor Fayose for possible relocation, but that they were futile.
The visibly enraged Minister , said the“ How will you feel if I relocate your office from Ado Ekiti to this place, will you still function? If you really know that that this is not good, why are you building these here for Nigerians ? Are you not aware that you are working for Nigerians?”, he asked.
“We will have to discuss possible relocation of this place when I get to Abuja. You said you were given this site, even if this is where the government had allocated for it, I expect you to give professional advice that this place is not likely to be suitable”, he said.
Fashola also inspected the dualisation of Ado-Akure highway in Ikere Ekiti by the state government, declaring the project as impressive and heartwarming.
Fayose, who had similar impression , described the controller as being grossly incompetent to superintend over such a highly technical department of the federal Ministry.
“You said you came to my office and you didn’t see me, why couldn’t you make effort to send a message? I was not even aware that such project was ongoing in that far area.
“My impression about some of the federal civil servants is that, they are overzealous. Some of them will come to Ekiti and they will not even tell the state government about their presence.
“I expect that I should have been told if such project is happening in my domain. This is about Nigerians and not an issue that should be politicized”, Fayose said.
The governor described the Minister’s visit as very timely, saying it came at a time when massive construction were being undertaken along Ado-Aramoko -Ita Ure and Ado-Ikere-Akure roads.
He said the government had submitted outstanding bills to the federal government on multi-billion naira that had been expended by the state government to rehabilitate federal roads.
“We have submitted our papers and I think the federal government will pay us when it is convenient . The Minister had done on-the-spot assessments. He knows the situation and what we expect is the
rehabilitation of these dilapidated roads and Ekiti is ready to partner in this regard”, he said.
