2016 budget: KDSG to construct 90 km ring roads in Kaduna metropolis
By; Samson Yaki, Kaduna.
Kaduna State Government has revealed the plans to construct 90 kilometres ring roads that will link eastern end western sectors of Kaduna metropolis to help decongest the capital city.
The state Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai disclosed this while presenting the proposed 2016 budget tagged “Budget of Sacrifice, Restoration and Change” before the state House of Assembly.
El-Rufai said the road projects which will pass behind Rigasa to Millennium City is going to be a Public, Private Partnership, on which discussion had reached advanced stage.
According to him, a total of N30 million has been set aside in the proposed budget for the establishment of Kaduna Sports Academy along Kaduna-Abuja Road.
His words, “Kaduna Ring Road is a 90km toll road that will link the Eastern and Western sectors of Kaduna from behind Rigasa and across River Kaduna beyond Millennium City. The project is intended to be a PPP and discussions have advanced with domestic and international firms to begin construction in 2016. The amount in the budget is for feasibility studies and engineering designs plus equity contribution for the project’s take-off.
“In order to provide avenues to engage our youths and develop talent in sports, we plan to establish a Sports Academy in the State. Already, the site for the Academy has been identified along Kaduna-Abuja Road. A provision of N30,000,000 has been made in the 2016 budget for planning and preliminary design of the Academy”.
The Governor also disclosed that a handsome part of the budget will be for provision of portable drinking water for the people of the state.
“On water, with N11.4bn for Zaria Water project arrears and current payments, waterworks rehabilitation projects in Ikara, Kafanchan, Kagoro, Kaduna, Kwoi, Manchok, Saminaka, the old Zaria plant and the ABU Samaru waterworks.
“Investments towards the completion of the Zaria Water Project will continue on a focused manner. RUWASSA will continue investments in rural water supply and rehabilitate all borehole projects that have gone into disrepair or needing maintenance.
“During 2016, we hope to restructure the water sector based on the Water Supply Bill that will be before this Honourable House to ensure the financial sustainability of the State Water Board.” The Governor said.
