President Bola Tinubu’s government says it cannot refund states for fixing federal roads at this time due to the country’s economic situation.

The minister of works, David Umahi, made this known when he visited Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan on Thursday.

”The economy right now will not permit any commitment by the federal government,” Umahi said.

”However, records of such road projects done by the states would be kept and could be revisited when the economy improves,” he added.

The former Ebonyi governor commended Makinde for his administration’s intervention in road projects.

The minister said that the intervention was alleviating the suffering of people.

“Be it state or federal roads, we are one government. The aim and oath of office is to place the welfare of the people ahead of any other interest,” he said.

Umahi urged Makinde to embrace Concrete Pavement Technology in road construction projects, saying it was more durable and less expensive than asphalt roads.

According to him, road projects with concrete pavement in Lagos State had been successful, adding that he built almost 95 per cent of road projects on concrete pavement as governor of Ebonyi state.

Speaking on the purpose of his visit to Oyo state, the minister said that he was touring federal government road projects in the south-west.