Nigerians were yesterday told to expect the inauguration of more road projects across the nation.
President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance in Azare, Bauchi State, during the inauguration and handing over of the 106.341-kilometer Kano-Maiduguri Road, Section III (Azare-Potiskum) in Bauchi and Yobe states.
Buhari, who was represented by Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Katagum, reiterated the commitment of his administration to infrastructural development.
Stressing his administration’s commitment to economic growth, the President appealed to road users to refrain from acts that could damage infrastructure provided with tax payers’ money.
He listed overloading of vehicles and trucks, spilling of petroleum products on the roads and conversion of road shoulders and setbacks to permanent parking lots as some of the activities that could shorten the lifespan of roads.
“We must all do our best to avoid these practices, report them when they occur and act in a lawful manner to stop them,” the President said.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed commended the president for approving the dualisation and extension of two major highways that connect the state’s metropolis.
The highways are the dualisation and extension of Kano Road, from Giwa Academy, Abubakar Tafawa University Main Campus, Nigerian Air Force Base- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport with a distance of 17.7kms and the expansion of Maiduguri-Awala- Bauchi State University road.
Represented by his deputy Baba Tela, the governor noted that the roads were near completion and expressed optimism that the state government would be reimbursed by the federal government.
He further applauded the collaborative effort between the Federal and Bauchi State government to restore the Bauchi-Ningi and Bogoro-Bauchi-Dawaki roads damaged by flood.
Mohammed also lauded Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, for completing the project.
Fashola, who was represented by the Director in charge of Northeast, Celestine Shausu, hinged the progress of work recorded on ongoing 44 roads on SUKUK funding.
He said: “The SUKUK is currently contributing to progress of work on 44 roads across Nigeria and as we complete them, events like this will hold.”
Fashola commended all the stakeholders both in private and public institutions who have contributed to the actualization of the project.
According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Babangida Hussaini, the Kano-Maiduguri Section III (Azare -Potiskum) connects four Local Government Areas in Bauchi (Azare and Dambam) and Yobe (Nangere and Potiskum) states respectively.
The Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Dr Umar Farouq II, commended the Federal Government for completing the road which was abandoned for more than 20 years by previous administrations.
He said the road was important to the socio-economic development of the benefiting communities.
The General Manager, Messrs Mothercat, Raffi Kevorkian, who gave the vote of thanks, appreciated government for believing in the company.
He pledged the company’s cooperation with the government in the delivery of quality and durable roads.
Yesterday’s inauguration of Azare- Potiskum Section III (Azare – Potiskum) marked the fourth in the series after the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road in Sokoto and Kebbi states; Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road in Benue and Cross River states and Nnewe-Oduma Road Section in Enugu and Ebonyi states.
