*Says achievement is to advantage of Nigerians
By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi yesterday, commended the Kaduna State Government, led by Governor Uba Sani for achieving a lot with security and food security to Nigerians advantage, while assuring that the Kaduna-Abuja Highway rehabilitation would be completed in 2024.
The minister expressed this when the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe received him in audience, on behalf of the governor, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, while on an inspection tour of federal roads in Kaduna State.
According to him, “we came to Kaduna by the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this important assignment.
“Mr president directed that I should personally come and inspect this road, Kaduna-Abuja Highway and give report directly to him.
He said, “we were there on Tuesday, on Wednesday we had a meeting with the South-West contractors, on Friday we are going to have meeting with all the contractors that are working in North West region.
He also said, “on Saturday, we will take North-Central, on Sunday we take another zone, by next Tuesday, we will be moving to South-West to start our physical inspections.
“While we are still coming to Kaduna to inspect others roads of ours, but I am on presidential directives because of how important the president takes the people of this region”.
He pointed out that, “we have seen the beautiful work Julius Berger is doing, we are satisfied, we’ve also looked at the funding, it is not an issue.
“We commend the Kaduna State Government, we will be achieving a lot with security and food security, all these is to Nigerians advantage.
“However, we have discussed with Julius Berger, they have completed Kaduna-Zaria, section three has been completed by 70 per cent, section one which is Kaduna-Abuja is completed by 20 per cent.
“We are very confident of the quality of concrete work of Julius Berger, over the years we will not call on government to repair the road again”.
He said, “part of the problem of our road infrastructure is that when repairs are needed, nobody gives it attention, we are going to be talking to FERMA so that within the limit of our funds, we will be able to deploy FERMA all over the country to give attention to where we need their attention.
“We assure you in the coming weeks, this road will be engaged, hence the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that they don’t want to go beyond 2024 or 2025.
“Most of our projects in this country suffer because of lack of funding and when the road is bad, they don’t call the people on site, but they call on the President or the governor. We are going to work on that.
“I thank you for great work, this is presidential order but you need to also assist us,” he added.
In a remark by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, she said that good road infrastructure is the most important public asset and agent for social cohesion.
The Deputy Governor also said that roads open up areas and stimulate economic and social developments.
She appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure the speedy completion of the Abuja-Kaduna -Zaria road in view of its strategic importance, the Eastern bye-pass which construction begun in 2002 and the reconstruction of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Way.
“When these roads are completed, these will surely enhance security of motorists and shorter travel distances,” she added.
The minister had earlier assured the Deputy Governor of expedited work on the Abuja-Kaduna road adding that the project will not go beyond 2024.
