Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his counterpart at the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, yesterday assured Nigerians to expect massive project commissioning across Nigeria as the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration enters its last lap.
Speaking at the official handing over of the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road, Fashola stated that the president had approved the inauguration of several completed projects in the coming weeks.
In addition to the road which was officially launched from the Kebbi axis, the minister stated that the processes for the inauguration of the Jigawa Section II covering 142.2 x 2 (dual) kilometres between Shuwarin and Azare, connecting Jigawa and Bauchi States would be opened soon.
Furthermore, he listed the Bauchi Section III covering 106.3 x 2 kilometres between Azare and Potiskum, connecting Bauchi and Yobe States and the Benue Vandeikya-Obudu Cattleranch Road covering 24 kilometres connecting Benue and Cross River States as being ready for commissioning.
Fashola also mentioned that the Ebonyi Nnewi- Uduma- Uburu road, covering 26.27 kilometres with 14 kilometres spur to Ishiagu connecting Enugu and Ebonyi States will follow in the line-up of projects to be inaugurated soon.
“My principal message to you all is that this is the first of many more project completion and handovers our country will experience in the next few weeks and months as we enter what l call a season of completion and impact.
“In this phase of completion Mr. President has approved that ministers from the various states where projects have been completed should represent him to perform the handover formalities.
“These projects represent major investment in road transport infrastructure, which is a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity,” he stated.
Fashola argued that the projects are visible and incontrovertible assets which are proof of what Nigeria’s resources are invested in, from a combination of its earned resources and borrowings.
The minister stated that the occasion afforded another opportunity to acknowledge the impact of the Sukuk funding in the completion of Azare – Potiskum, Shuwarin – Potiskum and Sokoto-Tambuwal- Kontagora roads.
“The Sukuk is currently contributing to progress of work on 44 roads across Nigeria and as we complete them, events like this will hold,” he noted.
In his comments, Malami stressed that the commitment to improve road transport infrastructure, determination to improve the ease of doing business, create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty had begun to manifest.
“I can confidently say that as we enter the final lap of the tenure of the Buhari administration we are also entering a season of completion and delivery of projects.
“This road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if is well used and not abused, it should last for the designed service life,” he advised.
According to the minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, road abuse takes many forms such as overloading of vehicles and trucks which accelerate pavement damage, spilling of petroleum products.
He added that abuse could also dissolve all the road components and allow water to penetrate, explaining that converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, could bring about early onset of road failure.
“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 road is also a story of the capacity of our people, the patriotic Nigerians who were employed directly to build this road, the scores of suppliers employed indirectly who are responsible for providing the machines utilised in the construction,” he stressed.
