The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the sum of N28.1 billion for the development of road and other infrastructural projects in Wasa District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, while addressing State House Correspondents shortly after the weekly Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, explained that the augmentation was a result of inflation which has overtaken the initial approval of N56 billion for the Wasa District projects.
He put the total project sum at N85 billion with a completion period of 42 months.
On his own part,Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said the Council approved the sum of N2.044 billion for the construction of internal road and facilities at the Gas Hub in Bayelsa State.
The Minister added that the Port Harcourt Refinery would be completed to resume production by December this year.
Reacting to the current gridlock being faced by the commuters along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola appealed for more patience from the students who are currently expressing their displeasure as a result of prolonged ASUU strike noting that there was no alternative route in the already built-up areas.
He said, “Once again, I apologise and empathise with commuters who need that place to get on with their lives. It’s the place we left to be the last, really because it’s the most built-up area, the last six kilometers into Lagos; very densely populated and occupied. There’s very little room for alternative routes for people. So, you just have to bear with us.
“I also heard that some aggrieved students under the aegis of NANS are going to the road to protest. My respectful view is that it is not helpful at all to the citizens.
“The right to protest is a very well-protected right in our Constitution, but it does not include the right to inflict pain and inconvenience on other people. And so, whilst the protests can go on, they should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protests. That in itself is a violation of law.”