The avoidable deaths of Nigerians through tanker fire accidents yesterdaydrew the flaks of Lagos State governor Mr Babatunde Fashola who tasked the federal government to explain to Nigerians what it knew about the missing $45 billion in the face of glaring under development in the country.
The governor who spoke after inspecting ongoing projects undertaking by the state government in Mile 12, Agiliti and Ikorodu areas of the state said gross misappropriation of the nation’s resources was responsible for the tragedies.
According to him,” When one look at the waste in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Now we were talking about $45 billion that was missing. They seem to be quite satisfied to tell us that it was only $10 billion that was missing. This is a lot of money. One dollar of public money is a lot of money.
“But later they told us that they spent the money actually. Now serious questions must be asked by National Assembly, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Nigerians that who appropriated the money?
“Was it spent during the period that the Central Bank of Nigeria governor said that they didn’t account for the money or was it before?
“And if there was appropriation for it, then we can now begin to seriously talk that were they the right places to spend the money? Given that if we had spent $10 billion to try and use it to build rail evacuation of fuel from Apapa and Tin Can island, maybe those people would not have died”.
As far as Fashola is concerned,these are serious questions. Speaking further he said, “The inferno is a tragedy. I couldn’t find a word to express how sad I feel especially at this time of this year. We saw the same thing in Zamfara State. It is a year that has started on a bad and sad note. It is a very painful and sad note for the families. And our hearts goes out to them.
“The federal, state and local governments and the citizens must resolve this year to change those things that we don’t like. ”
He said that there are 10 more inner roads that will be completed before the end of the year, saying he is satisfied with the quality of work done already.
“ And this year, we will start the allocation of the Lagos HOMS I know people are anxious to get the house but it isn’t about handling the houses. We want to give them homes and there is a distinction between the two.
Source: Leadership
The governor who spoke after inspecting ongoing projects undertaking by the state government in Mile 12, Agiliti and Ikorodu areas of the state said gross misappropriation of the nation’s resources was responsible for the tragedies.
According to him,” When one look at the waste in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Now we were talking about $45 billion that was missing. They seem to be quite satisfied to tell us that it was only $10 billion that was missing. This is a lot of money. One dollar of public money is a lot of money.
“But later they told us that they spent the money actually. Now serious questions must be asked by National Assembly, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Nigerians that who appropriated the money?
“Was it spent during the period that the Central Bank of Nigeria governor said that they didn’t account for the money or was it before?
“And if there was appropriation for it, then we can now begin to seriously talk that were they the right places to spend the money? Given that if we had spent $10 billion to try and use it to build rail evacuation of fuel from Apapa and Tin Can island, maybe those people would not have died”.
As far as Fashola is concerned,these are serious questions. Speaking further he said, “The inferno is a tragedy. I couldn’t find a word to express how sad I feel especially at this time of this year. We saw the same thing in Zamfara State. It is a year that has started on a bad and sad note. It is a very painful and sad note for the families. And our hearts goes out to them.
“The federal, state and local governments and the citizens must resolve this year to change those things that we don’t like. ”
He said that there are 10 more inner roads that will be completed before the end of the year, saying he is satisfied with the quality of work done already.
“ And this year, we will start the allocation of the Lagos HOMS I know people are anxious to get the house but it isn’t about handling the houses. We want to give them homes and there is a distinction between the two.
Source: Leadership
