Date Published: 07/28/09

Dear Sir,

Time to get our N81b refund from fed govt

It has in the recent past resonated in the media the confirmation from Governor Godswill Akpabio that he had spent N81billion of Akwa Ibom money on federal roads ’ reconstruction. The federal government is supposed to reimburse this amount to Akwa Ibom state government.

But the Federal Minister of Works does not believe so. He claims that most governors did not get inputs from the Federal Government before embarking on such unsolicited (help) projects and therefore refund would be difficult. “ If due processes were not followed as in getting the federal authorities to be involved right from the planning stage, it is an aberration ” , the Minister said. It goes to mean that the States that went on in such manner are in for it.   

In the case of Akwa Ibom, I have been able to ascertain that it may receive back money spent (only) on the Uyo-Oron road that leads to the Airport/Hangar project because that was the only that passed the test of all the due processes; it was initiated by the past administration. But it cannot be this singular road that cost the N81billion which Governor Akpabio has been harping on in the last one year plus.. If this is the reality on ground, it then means that we were all along wrongly informed on the issue.

The Federal Government should forgive and let us have this refund as the masses would rise against our government officials if they make such ‘ mistakes ’ again. I appeal to the governor to get the public posted on the true position and as the refunds trickle in.

      Sunny Udoh

            399 Herbert Macaulay

                  Yaba – Lagos.