The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is furious with the Federal Government for standing in the way of his administration’s plan to rebuild the International Airport Road, the Punch is reporting.
Ambode told journalists at the Lagos House that the Federal Ministry of Works has refused to grant approval to the state to rehabilitate the Murtala Muhammed Airport road, which is a national disgrace.
“The road linking Oshodi to the International Airport is a national embarrassment.
In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration has set out to achieve, we believe that the road must be repaired.
“We took it upon ourselves that the House of Assembly should approve the total reconstruction of the Airport Road from Oshodi to the International Airport in the 2017 budget.
Every plan has been completed, but we are having challenges with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.”
The governor also said that six months after the Federal Government granted the state approval to repair the Presidential Lodge in Marina, the state government is yet to be granted access to the premises.
“We plan that by May 27, 2017, we should be able to invite Mr. President and other people to that Presidential Lodge for the final banquet and dinner to mark Lagos@50.
Interestingly, Mr Ambode’s predecessor, Babatunde Fashola is the minister of works . The state government has also undertaken the rehabilitation of some decaying federal roads and the National Stadium in Lagos.
FG also have plans to rebuild the road, and I’m sure what the minister of works is trying to avoid is conflict of interest, a situation where the road is not well constructed.