The Akwa Ibom State Government this evening refuted reports that it has been refunded N20bn spent on the construction of federal roads in the state.

Reacting to the reports, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the reports credited to the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, were full of misrepresentations, hence the need to put the facts correct.

Mr. Umanah explained in a release in Uyo that Hon. Ozomgbachi during a courtesy call on Governor Godswill Akpabio clearly stated that “the sum of N20bn inserted in the 2013 budget was meant to be refunded to states of the federation on repairs of federal roads based on the approval of the President. He further said that the sum of N23bn will be earmarked in the 2014 appropriation for the same purpose.”

The Information Commissioner said it was important to put the records straight for the benefit of the public. “The only time Akwa Ibom State received any refund from the Federal Government for the rehabilitation of federal roads was during the late Yar’Adua’s administration when she got N2bn despite spending over N120bn on the rehabilitation of federal roads,” he stated.

Umanah further said that the State Government would be glad to receive refunds on all her expenses on the rehabilitation of federal roads.

He noted that the State Government under the leadership of Governor Godswill Akpabio has vigorously pursued the building of roads in the state which has seen to the construction and dualisation of over 200 kilometres of federal roads including the ongoing dualisation of Uyo-Ikot Ekpene-Aba Federal Highway as part of the over 320 new roads covering over 1,200 kilometres in the State. He cited other key infrastructure in the sector to include the more than 28 new bridges constructed along Federal and State Highways and the new Ikot Ekpene Federal Prisons and correctional facilities which have accounted for the infrastructural renaissance in the State.

The Commissioner said the State Government was happy with the robust relationship between the State and Federal Government on critical areas of development, and will continue to work towards the sustenance of the partnership, while thanking the state and federal legislatures for their support in the development drive of the state.

•Photo shows Aniekan Umanah.