Governors of the 36 states of the federation have asked the Federal Government to give them control over some of the federal roads in their states.
This was part of their demands at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday.
The council members had expressed concern over issues of roads construction, damage and maintenance and suggested that the ministry of power, works and housing come up with strategies to regulate the weight of heavy-duty vehicles plying the roads.
NEC also expressed willingness to take a wholistic approach on the issue of such roads across the country.
Osinabjo said the federal and state governments must sit and work together.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi said it had become clear that the Federal Government lacked the required funds to fix the roads.
In the past, the issue of roads has caused friction between the federal and state governments.
Recently, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, accused his predecessor and current Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, of frustrating the state government’s effort to repair the Federal Government-owned Airport Road. After much ado, the Federal Government eventually gave Lagos permission to repair the road.
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