Inaugurating the Rumuola-Rumuokwuta Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, requested a refund of money spent on the reconstruction of federal roads in the state. However, the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, openly disagreed, declaring that the federal government owes no obligation to make refunds on federal projects undertaken by state governments. Tinubu did, however, say that he could reconsider his stance on the request if Wike lobbied him.
During his speech, Wike explained why his administration has been able to deliver a number of major projects seamlessly, citing procurement laws as a factor for uncompleted projects. He called for a change in the procurement law, stating that giving a contractor 15% of the mobilisation fee makes it difficult to complete projects. In his case, he had to amend the procurement law to pay 70% to a company with the capacity to deliver within time.
Wike added that Julius Berger is currently handling some of their dualisation projects which have been completed on time. He called on the Federal Government to refund money spent on the federal roads constructed by the state government, promising that other states would do the same thing