By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
In continuation of its infrastructural development across the urban and rural areas of the state, the Bauchi State Executive Council under the Chairmanship of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed on Friday, approved contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of nine different roads at a total cost of N26, 921, 722, 125.64.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting described as marathon one which lasted several hours, the state commissioner for works and transport, Abdulkadir Ibrahim Mohammed said that the drive is in continuation of the state government’s urban and rural infrastructural development.
He enumerated the roads to which contracts for either construction or rehabilitation were awarded as Rimin Zayam – Polchi – Falama – Dass road awarded to Habib Engineering Nig Ltd at a cost of N6.35billion; and the Magama Gumau – Gumau road at a cost of N4.141 billion.
Mohammed said others are the rehabilitation of Mararrabar Liman Katagum road at a cost of N1.5 billion; Rishi – Tulu – Tama road linking to Kaduna state axis N3.26billion and the Bakari – Kafin Larabawa road at the cost of N1,173 billion awarded to Triacta Construction Company.
Council also at its sitting similarly approved contract for the construction of Soro – Zara – Miya road at a cost of N7.746 billion. Contract for the construction of the road was awarded at N2.5 billion 10 years ago by the Isa Yuguda administration with the sums collected but the project abandoned.
The commissioner explained that contract for the road was re-awarded to the same contractor at the cost of N7.746 billion with an agreement that the money earlier collected will be amortized.
Also briefing the press on the council meeting as it affects the state civil service, the Head of Service, Alhaji Yahuza Adamu disclosed that contract for the renovation of Abubakar Umar Secretariat housing most of the MDAs was awarded at a cost of N779, 855, 000.
The Head of Service recalled that the secretariat was constructed and commissioned in three phases with the first phase during the second republic under the administration of late Abubakar Tatari Ali in 1983 while the second phase came up under the tutelage of former governor, Ahmad Adamu Mu’azu between 2002 and 2007.
“Since then, the secretariat has never in whichever form whatsoever been maintained in terms of renovation of value adding, as such it become unconducive environment, not only for the civil servants, but even for the general public to go there”, Yahuza Adamu said.
He explained that the Abubakar Umar secretariat now constitutes a serious security risk with no fencing and people were crossing it from end to end without any restriction, stressing “This inform the decision of His Excellency, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to award the contract”.
Adamu further explained that the rehabilitation work would be undertaken in three slots of the secretariat itself, repairs of the roads network, and the provision of electricity and maintenance of generators, as well as the fencing and gatehouse.
