By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has explained reasons for the completion of the East/West road.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, had last month, disclosed that the government released a total sum of N7 billion for the completion of the East-West highway dualisation projects.
Alasoadura, said this while inspecting the East-West road from Section II Sub Section II, Ahoada – Kaima, to Section II Sub Section I, Eleme Junction – Ahoada, and Section IIIA, Eleme Junction – Onne Port Junction, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
But Fashola explained on Thursday that the road which was yet to be completed has achieved 70 percent of work done.
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Speaking when he appeared on the weekly ministerial briefing organized by Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he also noted that it is under the purview of the Niger Delta Ministry.
He attributed the bad state of the Itu/Odukpani/Calabar road to the difficult terrain, stressing that cost of building roads in the area was high.
The Minister also refuted claims that Nigeria has a 17 million housing deficit, pointing out that a country with many empty houses cannot be classified as such.
The Minister said he had consulted with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and some international organizations including the African Development Bank (AfDP) and confirmed that the Nigerian housing deficit reports are not correct.
He, therefore, noted that the report should be disregarded.
However, the minister affirmed that the actual housing deficit in Nigeria cannot be ascertained until another census is conducted in the country.
