The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has expressed the commitment of Federal Government to the completion of the Abuja- Kaduna-Katsina-Kano Federal Highway within a record time.
Umahi gave the assurance when he received the Governor of Kaduna State, Senayor Uba Sani in his office on Tuesday.
Umahi, in statement by his Special Adviser Media Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji said he had the directive of President Bola Tinubu to present a programme that could see to the completion of the project within the next one year.
He assured the Governor that the project, which was inherited from the past administration would be restarted in three sections as soon as possible.
“We are going to have the first section of 38 kilometers by 2, (which is 76 kilometers,) done by Dangote Group of Companies on Tax Credit and it’s going to use concrete to do it.
“We will allow the next 82 kilometers for Julius Berger to handle. And then the last 20 kilometers by 2, (which is 40 kilometers) for BUA to handle, and to also use concrete to do that, and I can assure you that the job will start in these three sections within this month of May,” Umahi assured.
The minister commended Governor Sani for the peace and development being witnessed in Kaduna State under his administration, despite inherent challenges.
“I want to commend you very highly. In spite of the challenges you have in your State, you have started extremely very well. And God will be with you. God will provide the means because you mean well for the nation, for your people in Kaduna State and in fact, for everyone who is living in Kaduna State.
“I want to commend you. I commend you for the peace of the state, the unity of the State and the oneness of the state, irrespective of religion,” Umahi said.
He further stated that the President’s directive on designing 1,000 kilometers Sokoto- Badagry Highway was being handled with dispatch by the Federal Ministry of Works.
Engr. Umahi explained that the project would cover the old African trade route of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos States, connecting to Badagry.
He also stated 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.
In his remarks, the Governor Sani extolled the vision and commitment of the President in revolutionising road infrastructure, which is a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the nation, and the commitment of the Minister of Works which has changed the narrative in the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria.
He said, “I have to commend him for his effort. Since his assumption to office, he has made us proud, because he has done extremely well, and because he has been able to follow the blueprint of our President, who has promised everyone when he was elected, that he would take development to every part of Nigeria, irrespective of those that elected him or not. And of course, that is the agenda, that is the Renewed Hope. Today, we are proud to say that development is reaching everywhere in Nigeria.”
Governor Sani also commended the President’s initiative to construct Lagos-Calabar road and the Sokoto-Badagry road, noting that the projects would enhance the socio-economic potential of the country when completed.
He emphasised the importance of Federal Government’s intervention on the Eastern Bypass in Kaduna State, the Mando-Birnin Gwari road connecting the North West.
He said that the road was of prime importance for agricultural programmes in the North. “And 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 our farms with markets. Our people believe in this infrastructure to support our farmers,” Governor Sani said.