Former Governor of Ekiti Kayode Fayemi says federal authorities frustrated his efforts to fix dilapidated roads linking Ekti to other neighbouring states.

Asked why he could not use his influence as a former minister, chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress to get funding to fix the roads, Mr Fayemi said though he got funding to fix the road, he was blocked by the federal government from fixing them.

“We got money from development partners, we got in principle support from the African Development Bank to reconstruct Akure-Ado-Ekiti road and dualise it. But the owners of the road – the FG – blatantly refused,” Mr Fayemi said.

The former governor who left office on Sunday disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper published on Sunday.

Speaking further, Mr Fayemi explained how the president of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, helped facilitate funding to fix the roads but the Buhari-led federal government blocked him.

“Yes, the owners of the road said “leave our road alone and if you do it, you cannot toll it and we will not refund you. Just stay off our roads,” Mr Fayemi said.

Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, has for months been cut off as the four major highways and bridges linking the town to neighbouring areas have collapsed. Travellers go through excruciating experiences to commute across the state.