President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said his administration, owes no obligation to make refunds for the construction of federal roads by states of the federation.
This came as a response to a request by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state at the inauguration of the Rumuokuta flyover-over during a two-day visit to the state.
Earlier, Wike had told Tinubu: “Part of why we are having uncompleted projects has to do with our procurement laws. If you follow the procurement law, it will take very long to complete projects.
“In our case, I call Mr. Speaker, to say we can’t continue with this. We had to amend our procurement law to give us the latitude to pay 70 per cent to a company we know has the capacity to deliver within time.
“Unfortunately, these projects are federal roads. We don’t want our people to suffer. I believe Federal Government should say let us refund these monies.”
“I assure you, as you enter the office and approve to pay these monies back, other states will also do the same thing. So that (refund) is the first request we are making to you.”
But in his response, the President-elect stated, “The 12th flyover and the demand you made for refund, I owe you nothing. It is your road.
“You can’t chuckle at me and make a demand. You are the one living on this road. I commend your effort. You have to lobby me to collect it.”
