Cash crunch: Edo Govt vows to complete ongoing projects

 

The Edo state government has on Thursday assured that all ongoing projects embarked upon would be completed in spite of the cash crunch that has hit most states of the federation.

This assurance was given by the state commissioner for Works, Mr Osarodion Ogie while inspecting road and flood control projects in Abudu, Oba Erediauwa and 2nd East Circular areas of the state.

The commissioner said while some states were finding it difficult to pay salaries, Edo had continue to meet with workers salaries obligation as well as continued

with projects execution across the state.

He said this was made possible because the Adams Oshiomhole led government had from inception made conscious effort to cut down on recurrent expenditure to beef up its capital expenditure.

Ogie said the tax drive and blockage of leakages in the state resources have also assisted the government to meet up with its financial obligation.

He said as a responsible government, it would continue to ensure that that the people’s money was being spent responsibly until the last day of the government.

According to him, “The people of the state know they have in place a responsible government and it is the covenant of this government that it would work until the last day.

“As a responsible government we will ensure that no ongoing project embarked upon will be abandoned.

“You will notice that we have continue that contractors have not left the site of all ongoing projects in spite of the cash crunch that have hit most states of the federation. Edo is not owing any workers while several states of the federation have been unable to pay salaries for months now.

“We are not saying we are not being affected by the cash crunch because there are many projects the government would have love to execute. What we are saying that we have ensured that the ongoing ones does not suffer In spite of the financial challenges in the country.

Speaking on the 10km Oba Erediauwa and 26 adjoining road projects in Upper Sakponba, Ogie said it was carefully initiated to address the menace of flood problem in the areas.

“The Erediauwu road project comprises of 26 adjoining streets. Several of this streets have not witness any vehicular movement for about 20 years as a result of their states And many houses in the area have been swallowed due to challenges of flooding problem in the area.

“The same goes to the Abudu township road and three adjoining streets that we are also working on. The abudu road project put together is 4.5km.

“On the 2nd East Circular, the road which has totally failed have been left abandoned for over 30 years. It is a commercial road hence our decision to reconstruct the road from it original single lane to dual carriage road fitted with work -way and street light, ” he explained.

The Nation