Minister for Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has commended the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for building unbeatable legacy for the state.
Hon. Amaechi said in spite the current economic meltdown, the State of Osun is moving graciously on the path of economic sustainability and prosperity.
The Hon. Minister stated this in Osogbo, the state capital during an inspection tour to the state.
Hon. Amaechi who was on a transitional trip to the state was reportedly saddled with the responsibility of touring and inspecting all the ongoing construction of federal roads in the state.
Addressing the journalists shortly after the inspection, Hon. Amaechi disclosed that the purpose of his visitation to the state was to assess, inspect and tour round the ongoing federal roads projects as being directed by the Federal Roads Inspection Committee setup by the members of Federal Executive Council.
Hon. Amaechi who commenced his inspection tour from Gbongan down to Osogbo vis-a-vis Inisha, where the roads were being under construction, said the level of financial commitment being incurred by the State Government under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola was an indication and testimony to the fact that the state is being blessed with a Governor whose loves for development and transformation can never be measured or estimated.
The Minister of transport who said he was directed to inspect the ongoing federal roads from Gbongan to Ila-Odo, said the financial commitment of the state government on the roads implies that the current government has invested hugely on capital project.
Hon. Amaechi who lamented over the current economic imbroglio, said the tremendous achievements he met in Osun has really changed his impression to conclude that despite the adverse effects of the economic chanleenges, the state was able to strive and thrive with little resources.
He affirmed that even at that meagre available resources, the giant strides recorded by the government of Governor Aregbesola would remain an indelible landmark for the generations to come.
He said, "Initially when the economic meltdown started I was wondering for states like Osun because of the availability of resources.
"But despite the economic imbroglio, Governor Aregbesola was still able to improve and develop the state with the little resources.
"For this purpose, he needs to be commended and applauded for all he has been doing over the years because hardly one will see a state with meagre resources like Osun to perform tremendously
"With what I saw, it is believed that all the giant strides recorded in Osun so far by the current administration were indication to the fact that Aregbesola is a good leader whose passion for development can never be distorted.
"He has seriously developed the capacity in moving the state towards the economic buoyancy, prosperity and sustainability.
Hon. Amaechi who used the visit to inspect the ongoing construction of MKO Abiola International Airport, Ido-Osun in Osun State in company of Governor Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and other government functionaries, however said the Federal Government would look into what it could in assisting the state on the laudable project.
On the Federal Government Assistance to the state, Mr. Amaechi also reassured the state government of continuous support, cooperation and assistance, saying the Federal Government would also ensure that the state of Osun benefit immensely.
Speaking on the significance of the visit, Mr. Amaechi said his visit to Osun was imperative sequel to the resolution made by the Federal Executive Council after setting up a committee headed by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to oversee and inspect all the ongoing construction of federal roads across the six geo-political zones.
He stated further that his visit to Osun was to tour round the ongoing federal roads under construction and write a comprehensive report to the members and chairman of the Committee, which according to him after which a recommendation would be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for full implementation.
Hon. Amaechi also said the visit was found mostly important as some states' Governors according to him have approached and consulted the Federal Government on the need to reimburse them for the money they spent on federal roads in their respective states.
"Speaking on the blueprint of revamping the transportation in the country, Mr. Amaechi said the Federal Government has commenced massive resuscitation of railway, saying the motive was to ensure that the nation brinkback to limelight the vibrant and effective rail transportation in the world.
He stated further that the purpose of kick-starting with railway as a means of transportation was to reduce to the barest minimum the rate of accident on the roads and the influx of trailers, trucks and containers plying through major roads in the country.
He revealed that the current government has already prioritized railway, stressing that the collective focus now is to bring back railway to the economic limelight in Nigeria and ensure that it comes to stay permanently as one of the greatest means of transportation not only in Nigeria or Africa but in the whole world.
"Our focus is to strengthen transportation and banish the stress and pains confronting Nigerians on transportation.
"We are working assiduously on this in order to ensure that our roads are eased from the the adverse effects of trailers, trucks and other containers that have taken over our roads.
"We equally wish to reduce to the barest minimum, the rate of road crashes majorly cause by the countless numbers of long trailers and containers that often plying our major roads in the country.
"For these lofty reasons, we believe that once all these are achieved, our roads will be well-maintained, will also experience a reduced accident rate, while the life-span of our roads would also be on the increase", he stressed.
The Minister for Transportation also frowned at what he described undue pains on the maritime sector, saying the current government would ensure all round transformation of the nation's seaports.
He said, "We will also do a great reform in our maritime. We will ensure massive expansion of our seaports across the nooks and crannies of our country because I wonder why Nigerian seaports as big as Nigeria is, competiting with Benin Replic seaports.
"The most painful aspect of it is that Nigerians are going after private gets to boats, canoes and all that. So we must seriously find solution to this by intensifying an overhauling rehabilitation on maritime sector.
"This is embarrassing, and for this reason, we will reposition our maritime sector for better improvement, upliftment and general well being of Nigerians.
"We will not relax until we achieve all the reforms and changes in all aspects of the economy.
"Though we have a lot to do on transportation, but by God's grace we will do our best to enhance and strengthen the sector for the benefit of all.
On the invention of new rail light, Mr. Amaechi assured Nigerians that the current government would invest meaningfully on rail light which according to him after invention would be channeled for transportation from Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar respectively.
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