He also disclosed that the ministry has ordered contractors, transmission companies and distribution companies to be proactive in order to forestall effects of the rains.
He disclosed this in Abuja on Monday while giving a closing report on the status of infrastructure in Nigeria and the launch of a book; ‘Proof of infrastructure delivery across Nigeria.’ “We have given directives to our contractors because our roads will not finish immediately. So, contractors have directive now to try and close all the earthworks and protect them from being washed away. Places where they have not finished, they have to make sure that they are motorable for commuters until the dry weather comes for them to finish their work.
“Let me not be understood because when the rains come, flooding will come when the rains are heavy. So, nobody should say Fashola said there will be no problem during the rainy season. There will be problem but we are preparing to make the impact of the problem less severe. This is the first in our records and it is happening under the Buhari government. It shows that civil servants can also be proactive and prepare instead of being reactive.
Highlighting the various steps, Fashola said: “You will go and prepare a budget and that is part of the national budget that the president presents to the National Assembly. All this while, you can do nothing. When the budget is then approved, you can start the process of trying to award a contract. If the amount of contract is above N500million for works, then you take a memo to the Federal Executive Council and go and wait till it is your turn.
“So, instead discussing whether the president went on a private visit to London; these are the issues that we should have urgent national discussion and a consensus about to solve these challenges. So, I seek the cooperation of the National Assembly. There can be no compelling time than now to quickly amend the procurement law. Please let us quickly do something about that.”
The NASS should actually do something about the procurement law, if what the Hon. Minister said is the true position of things. The process is not only cumbersome but retrogressive!
F.......k u