14 November 2009
Lagos — Edo State Government has set aside over N13.5 billion in the treasury to mobilise contractors to site in the task of constructing roads across the state.
The state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who disclosed this at the launching of the Youth Employment Scheme (YES), in Benin City as part of activities to mark the one year anniversary celebration, said once the contractors start working there will be no stopping.
He disclosed that since the state is faced with lean resources, the government is determined to manage those resources prudently, adding that every action of the government has been based on proper planning.
"While we were doing this planning, we were putting the money for the job aside, as I speak we have in our treasury over N13.5 billion with which we are ready to mobilise the contractors to site and once they start working there will be no stopping", he noted.
According to the state governor, "when you appreciate that when I assumed office without one naira in the treasury and we actually inherited an overdraft of over N5.7 billion and approved vouchers of over N5 billion, bringing the total liability to over N10 billion, from that deficit situation, today, as your steward, the man who would not have been here if you were not there, I am happy to say that we have put this resources aside when we were rigorously and aggressively collecting the taxes".
He recalled that those who had reservation why the administration had to revisit taxation now they can see the difference, while some states are struggling to pay salaries and their workers are going on strike, Edo State is talking about mobilising contractors to work and talking of capital projects across the eighteen local governments in the state.
The governor further disclosed that while the state government was waiting for the designs which are necessary before construction work can start on the roads, 32 roads were renovated and reconstructed which have not been accessible over the past 15 across the state.
"The construction work began this week on Siluko and Constain roads while the five junctions will begin next week. I had promised that we are going to add additional two lanes on Ugbowo road because we do not need to spend two hours to move from Kings Square to University of Benin" he said, adding that, "this November, the construction work of the additional two lanes will begin and the contractor has assured me that it will be completed within a year, and the dualisation of the Airport road will also begin this November because the designs, costing have been completed, and the funds are available".
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