FG Assures of Speedy cCompletion of Abuja- Kaduna -Katsina -Kano Highways
Paschal Emeka, Abuja
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Works, of Works (FMW), Engr David Umahi has reiterated the commitment of Federal Government (FG) to completing the Abuja- Kaduna-Kastina- Kano Federal Highway within a record time.
In a press release from his Special Adviser on Media on Wednesday, Barr Orji Uchenna Orji, he stated this during a courtesy visit of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani on Tuesday.
At the event, the minister said he had the directive from Mr. President to present a programme that could see to the completion of the project within the next one year, even as he assured the governor that the project, which was inherited from the past administration, would be started in three sections as soon as possible.
According to him, they were going to have the first section of 38 kilometers by two (which is 76 kilometers,) done by Dangote Group of Companies on Tax Credit, informing that concrete will be used to do it, saying that they would give the next 82 kilometers to Julius Berger to handle; the last 20 kilometers by 2, (which is 40 kilometers) to BUA to handle, using concrete to do that, he assured that the job will start in the three sections within this month of May.
Commending the governor for the peace and development being witnessed in Kaduna, despite inherent challenges, he hailed the governor for starting well and prayed that God be with him and provide him with the means, saying that he means well for the nation, his people in Kaduna and in fact, for everyone in the state, irrespective the differences in tribe, religion and political parties, among others.
He used the opportunity to inform him of Mr President’s directive on designing 1000 kilometers Sokoto- Badagry Highway which according to him was being handled with dispatch by the FMW, adding that the project will cover the old African trade route of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos states, connecting to Badagry.
He also informed that a proposal was being made to link the South East to the North through the Trans Sahara Highway that would have a spur passing through Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and end in Abuja.
Responding, the governor extolled the vision of Mr President in revolutionizing road infrastructure in the country, which according to him is a catalyst for the socio- economic development of the nation, and the commitment of the minister which he said had changed the narrative in the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria.
Commending Mr President’s initiative to construct Lagos-Calabar road and the Sokoto-Badagry road and noting that the projects will enhance the socio-economic potential of the country when completed, the governor emphasized the importance of FG’s intervention on the Eastern Bypass in Kaduna State, the Mando-Birningwari road, connecting the North West.The road, he went on, was of prime importance for agricultural programmes in the North.
“For all of us in Northern Nigeria, you will agree with me that farming is very important and what we really want is creating opportunities for people that are in the rural areas. That will certainly help, particularly our farmers, linking their farms with markets. Our people believe in this infrastructure to support our farmers,” he noted.
