Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola was on Thursday in Osun to inspect Federal Government road projects across the state just as he described the efforts of Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the projects as fantastic judging by the meagre finances of the state.
The inspection by the minister is part of the inspection of federal roads in the Ondo, Ekiti and Osun axis.
Federal road projects visited in Osun include the 30-kilometre dualisation of Gbongan-Akoda road and Chief Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange Bridge, the 30.20-kilometer reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo road.
The minister also assessed the condition of the Ifetedo-Ile Ife road as well as the Ilesa-Ife dual carriage way.
Fashola who paid a courtesy visit to the Osun Governor in his office shortly after the inspection stressed that the federal government was not in competition with any state governor concerning road projects, but that the it just wanted good roads delivered across the country.
The minister while commending the intervention of Aregbesola on the Gbongan to Akoda road and especially the Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange bridge stressed that the job will certainly be a masterpiece when completed.
Fashola says the visit was necessary in order to take stock of the state of federal roads and also to liaise with necessary ministry officials to facilitate support for the drive of governor Aregbesola in terms of road networks.
The minister who was led round the project sights by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, of State of Osun, Engr. Nurudeen Adeagbo also charged the contractors handling the road projects to ensure a timely completion of the job.
While at the sight of the ongoing projects, the former Lagos state governor also urged the handlers of the project to do a thorough job and keep to the specified standard given to them at the beginning of the project, stressing that standard should never be compromised for any reason whatsoever.
He said, “I want to sincerely appreciate the efforts of Ogbeni Aregbesola on his intervention on federal roads in the state despite the paucity of funds.
“He is not only attempting at doing the roads, I can see that the projects have been given to competent contractors who are doing a good job.”
In his response, Governor Rauf Aregbesola commended the passion of Fashola on the welfare of the Nigerian people as well as the development of their standard of living.
The governor while appreciating the efforts of the minister since assuming the seat, urged him to see to following the correct alignment of federal roads in the state, while expressing gratitude to the minister for extending the construction of the Ilesa-Osogbo road to the railway junction in the state capital.
He also charged the federal government through the minister to intensify efforts at rehabilitating the Ilie-Ikirun-Iragbiji Road, stressing that it would be a major break as it will go a long way in opening a lot of agricultural communities in the area.
