FASHOLA'S MINISTRY TO BECOME MONEY SPINNER

 The federal government has started very early in the day to diversify the economy and stop the dependence on oil.

The minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fasola  who during his maiden official press conference in Abuja yesterday announced  that the federal government was going to reintroduce the toll gate did not take Nigerians, especially those living in Lagos by surprise.

The factional leader, of the Oduduwa People Congress, Frederick Fasheun as if he read his mind advised him earlier not to toll the road.

In his, , "Maintenance would be our watchword. We are setting up a robust maintenance regime to keep our highways in good shape. This shows that tolling is necessary to support government funding. So, it will not be too much if we ask every road user to pay a little to augment government funding for road maintenance.

“It is eminent commonsense for us to find that money. We will use technology; so if you don’t pay cash, you will pay by tokens or tickets and the money is accountable and it will go to the right place. We will manage that fund properly and we will hold those who we put there to account.”

The minister also disclosed that the ministry of works is owing contractors over N2 trillion naira while the ministry has N 18billio. He also said N13billion has so far been released while a total of 206 contactors are being owed.

On power, Fashola said the stakeholder in the power sector, the management of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission,NERC, Transmmission Company of Nigeria,TCN, Generation Companies, GENCOS, Distribution Companies,(DISCOS) amongst others have been invited to a crucial meeting to chart a course out of the persistent crises in the sector.

Issues to be discussed include, estimated billing system, fixed tariff, among others.In tackling the housing deficit he revealed a paltry sum of N10 billion has been budgeted to build low cost housing estate across the states of the federation including Abuja(FCT).