FG Awards Contract for Dualization of 420km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Highway 

–         Inspects N40bn Bauchi-Dindima road project, assures quality delivery

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi 

As part of efforts to boost transportation of goods, persons and the economy across the country, the federal government has awarded a multi-billion Naira contract for the construction of a dual carriageway stretching from Akwanga in Nassarawa State through Plateau State, Bauchi State ending in Gombe State. 

This was as the Federal Ministry of Works inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the Bauchi-Dindima Village Road along the Gombe axis in Bauchi State, a 35.4-kilometre project valued at N39.9 billion.

Speaking while inspecting ongoing rehabilitation of a section of the Bauchi – Gombe Federal highway on Sunday, the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed Abdullahi, said, “What we are doing is the stationization project carried out by the government, to gauge the pulse of Nigerians as far as what government is doing in the provision of road infrastructure to Nigerians.” 

According to him, “As you are aware, the provision of the enhancement of infrastructure and transportation as an envelope of growth is one of the eight priority areas of the strategic agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.” 

He stressed that, “The Federal Government and the present administration is doing everything possible since coming on board to provide road infrastructure to Nigerians because of the critical importance of the infrastructure to Nigerians and the provision of our socio-economic activities as well as enhancing them.”

“So, we are here on Gombe-Bauchi Road. The project is the rehabilitation of the road. So, we are here with the Federal Controller of Works, Bauchi State, Engineer Adamu.

“We are also here with the Project Manager of the Company handling the project, Triacta Nigeria Limited. And we are also here with the officials of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, as well as the council for the regulation of engineering practice,” he added. 

Ahmed Mohammed Abdullahi added that, “So, as I have said, this is just to gauge the pulse of Nigerians. And the good thing about this alignment that we are on, the Federal Executive Council has recently approved the dualization of this road.” 

He explained that, And the dualization is starting from Akwanga in Nasarawa State to Jos in Plateau State to Bauchi in Bauchi State to Gombe. “It is a distance of 420 kilometers. This is the fourth of four-legged project by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

According to him, “The first one, as you are all aware, is the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway, which is on course. It’s a 750-kilometer highway, coastal highway. Then we have the Sokoto to Badagry superhighway, which is 1,008 kilometers. Then we have the Calabar to Ebonyi to Abuja, Superhighway, which is 474, then this one that I just spoke to you about was awarded just about a week ago by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).”

He added that, “It includes the same thing like the other four legacy projects. The idea about this legacy project is to connect the whole of Nigeria like a loop from Port Harcourt to Badagry, Lagos, Lagos to Calabar, Calabar to Abuja, Abuja to the North East. So, you can see that all the regions of the country zones are properly captured in these four legacy projects.”

He added that, “There is no room within the region that is not captured in the whole of this country. And this road project embarked by the administration of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are not merely roads, they are investments for the future.

“They will carry street lights as well as well-tracked, as well as solar street lights, well-tracked, and some of them will even have dams for irrigation as well as agricultural purposes.”

According to him, “This road will end up as carbon credit because of the renewable energy components of the project. So, I’m really delighted as a son of the soil to say that this contact is going to see the light of the day.

“And it is instructive that we should support the government of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue the good works that he has started in the road sector.”

The Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works Bauchi State, Engr. Bashir Adamu, said that, “The project is the rehabilitation of Bauchi-Gombe Road. And the project is about 35.4 kilometers. It is a rehabilitation. And the contract was awarded around 4th April 2004, and the work was commenced on 10 June 2024.” 

According to him, “So the project, now we have constructed, we have completed up to about 21.8 kilometers out of that 35.4. So, we are also at the final part about weaning, about 11 kilometers. So, if you will remember, this road was a nightmare if you wanted to travel to Gombe last two years.”

“So, now from here to Alkaleri is just a very short, within a short time, you can get there. So, this project, when completed in hand, it will enhance economic growth and open the area. This is the accident-prone road before,” he added. 

According to him, “We frequently used to have accidents here, frequent accidents. But now, with the rehabilitation and the good road, with asphalt from drain to drain, and it has actually reduced accidents drastically.

“Even Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attests to that. And also, it’s a link between North East and Central as well as other parts of the country. With this, Agriculture and other farming activities will be boosted thereby boosting economy of the people.”

In his remarks, Site Manager of the construction company, Triacta Nigeria, Engr. Joseph Samaha, commended the federal government for awarding the contract to his firm. 

He explained that so far, 18km of the project has been completed and done in line with the contract specifications to ensure that it stood the test of time. 

Joseph Samatha assured that the project will be completed within the agreed time on the contract documents saying that before the rains come, substantial work would have been done in order to allow free flow of traffic. 

In separate remarks, representatives of COREN and NSE, commended the federal government for embarking on the project aimed at making transportation easier for commuters along the road stretch. 

They also commended the contractor for doing a good job so far, according to them, their members who are monitoring the project have reported the work is qualitative and done in accordance with specification. 

Also speaking, Chairman, Bauchi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Sai’d, commended the federal government for embarking on the project which he said will ease movement from Bauchi to Gombe and vice versa. 

The NUJ Chairman added that it will ease transporting farm produce along the road considering that there are many villages that are known for agriculture there. 

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Works has inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the Bauchi-Dindima Village Road along the Gombe axis in Bauchi State, a 35.4-kilometre project valued at N39.9 billion.

Speaking during the inspection tour on Sunday, the Federal Controller of Works in Bauchi State, Engr. Bashiru Adamu, said the project stretches from Bauchi metropolis to Dindima Village (Yankari Junction) within Bauchi local Government Area.

He explained the existing single carriageway had suffered extensive structural failures, including deep potholes, severe cracking, surface depressions, and eroded shoulders, necessitating comprehensive rehabilitation.

According to him, the contract was awarded on April 4, 2024, and significant progress has already been recorded 21.8 kilometres 11.87 kilometres remaining for final adjustments. “So far, 21.8 kilometres of binder course have been completed, while 11.87 kilometres have reached the wearing course stage.”

Engr. Adamu noted the road, originally constructed in the early 1990s, had deteriorated badly over the years, resulting in prolonged travel time and safety concerns. He added that upon completion, travel time between Bauchi and Alkaleri would be significantly reduced, improving accessibility and stimulating economic activities in surrounding communities.

“The rehabilitation and widening of this road have already led to a noticeable reduction in road accidents, improved traffic flow, and safer manoeuvring for motorists. Proper drainage systems and other engineering solutions have also been introduced to tackle erosion, water damage, and past infrastructure failures,” he stated, assuring that the quality of work executed so far was satisfactory.

Also speaking, the Director of Information and Public Relations for the Federal Ministry of Works, Mohammed A. Ahmed, said the media tour was aimed at engaging stakeholders and reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to delivering quality and durable road infrastructure nationwide.

He stressed that road infrastructure remains a top priority of the federal government due to its critical role in driving socio-economic development and national integration.