In what looks like a momentarily suspension, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has taken over the duties of the Minister of Power, Works And Housing, Babatunde Fashola, by granting permission to the Lagos State Government to embark on a total reconstruction of the International Airport road, from the Oshodi end.This permission constitutionally could have emanated the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, which is under the control of Fashola.
The State’s Governor, Akinkunmi Ambode, who made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, side-lined Fashola, and commended the Acting President, for his approach to issues and for fast tracking the process.
Recall, that the State Government had sometimes lamented that its efforts to work on the road, was being frustrated by the Fashola.
Ambode said: “We are very appreciative of the good gesture of His Excellency, the Acting President, for acceding to our request, which is not only very timely, but a very heart-warming one. Posterity will never forget this genuine developmental action.”
Ambode also gave kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari, for providing the enabling environment to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the nation, adding that, with the upgrading of the International Airport road, which is the gateway to the nation’s commercial nerve centre, the country will attract new investments.
The Governor, had in early March this year, raised an alarm about the present state of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road, describing it as a national disgrace that required immediate attention, to salvage the nation’s image.
He stated then that the State presently has a design for the reconstruction of the road, as well as the funds to embark on the project, but was yet to get the go ahead from the Federal Government.
Governor Ambode had said that if given the approval, his administration was ready to hit the ground running and begin construction of the Airport road within two weeks, and finish same within a period of six months.
Besides, the Governor also implored the Federal Government, to avail the State of the N2 billion appropriated for the Airport road, in the 2017 National Budget, to carry out the project.
The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in its reaction, said the delay in granting the request of the Lagos State Government, was because the Memorandum conveying the request of Lagos State, which was already before the Federal Executive Council, FEC, had not reached completion stage.
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