BY EMEKA MAMAH

Lagos –  The Federal Government has denied misappropriating the five per cent fuel users’ levy since the law came into effect in 2007. It said the levy had never been collected by its Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, much less misappropriate same.

Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen, who said this while inspecting some federal roads in Lagos, weekend, said  plans had reached an advanced stage for FERMA to start collecting the money as provided by the law.

Onolememen was reacting to a request by Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, asking FERMA to give details of all the funds it collected under the five per cent fuel users’ charge since the Act establishing it was reviewed about four years ago.

The Minister said there was no detailed information to give to Falana as nothing had been remitted to FERMA so far as provided by the Act.

Falana had availed himself of provisions of the Freedom of Information, FoI Act and requested the Chairman of FERMA to publish the spending and disbursement of the fuel levy, which he accused the agency of collecting but refusing to share with the various states’ road maintenance agencies since 2007.