Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The ongoing work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano and Lagos-Ibadan highways as well as two bypasses on the Second Niger Bridge, will intensify in the coming weeks after President Bola Tinubu’s has directed the immediate release of funds for the projects.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, who disclosed this during an inspection tour of the Lafia bypass road and ‘dualisation’ of the 9th Mile (Enugu)-Otukpo-Makurdi road project in Makurdi, said that the president’s directive was meant remove any impediment to the quick completion of the three projects.
It was learnt that the 260-kilometre road is being jointly funded by the Export-Import Bank of Nigeria, which is handling 85 per cent of it, while the federal government is taking a counterpart funding of 15 per cent.
The minister, who had earlier inspected the Mararaba-Keffi reconstruction and expansion project, said the project being carried out by China Harbour Nigeria Limited will be delivered in 48 months.
“We want to assure you that from today, things will be happening, you will be happy with the progress. I want to thank Mr. President that about three days ago, he approved that work should immediately commence in many sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano.
“It is cheering news for me because we were having some problems with funding, but the president has solved the problem and directed for the immediate release of funds so that the road will continue.
” It’s the same thing with the Lagos-Ibadan highway and the second Niger Bridge two bypasses,” he added.
Umahi laudsd the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia and his Enugu state counterpart, Peter Mbah for settling up taskforce committees to provide security on the sites of the project.
The minister further stated that there was the need for a flyover at the beginning of the road project to reduce the traffic jam around the area to ensure the convenience of commuters.
“We noticed that there is a lot of hold-up around the beginning of the project, so I have asked them to study it, because the essence of governance is for the convenience of the people. So, if we have a lot of hold-ups there, people can’t plan. So we have directed that we should have a flyover at the location to ease it.
“So, the road from Keffi to Makurdi has been completed and we are going to toll it. But for some modifications, we have asked the China Harbour Engineering Company to provide the service station,” he added.
While also inspecting the Mararaba-Keffi highway earlier, Umahi called for its redesign to accommodate a flyover at the Mararaba corridor, saying that the move would ease the daily commute of citizens that reside along the corridor.
He stressed that the road which was being funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
Also speaking, Alia who accompanied the minister to the project site, commended the president for accelerating work on the project.
He said: “From Abuja to Makurdi, the journey was four and a half hours but with this new road, it takes us three hours. That is going to help our businesses and help us to plan on plying on the route. We thank you for the pains you have taken for being here yourself.
“From this axis to Otupko, instead of taking one hour it will take you two hours, but rest assured of our continued support and collaboration which we need to do for the smooth running of the project will be done.”
