David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, has said that road projects being constructed by President Tinubu’s administration are designed to last for 50 to 100 years.
Umahi, who stated this during his inspection of sections of the ongoing Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Abuja-Lokoja, and Lokoja-Benin roads at the weekend, said that the President of Nigeria is setting high standards in road construction, adding that he is intentional in revitalising the national road network for sustainable economic prosperity.
The Minister said that the President has decided to prioritise the funding of the outstanding sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, due to his desire to have the road completed in record time.
“We gave Mr President 14 months to complete both sections I and III, a nd section II. Sections I and III, which are a total of 118 kilometres, were awarded at a total cost of N252 billion. Mr President has fully paid 30 per cent, which should be about 60 billion Naira. Section II is about 72km by 2, which is on reinforced concrete. And I think 17, 15 kilometres is going to be on a flexible asphalt pavement. The total cost is N507 billion. 30 per cent has been paid, which is over N150 billion. Now, if you combine the two projects up to Kano, you will see that this project is N761 billion.
“I commend Mr. President very highly for his interest in building this road. We tagged the building of this road, the building of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has so much passion to get this project completed. And he’s funding it as a priority project. And we are happy for the sections completed on concrete.In the past, we witnessed construction of roads, which never lasted up to 10 years. But this time, it’s building of roads that will last between 50 to 100 years.”
While inspecting the projects on the Abuja-Lokoja road, Umahi expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work being executed on the Zuba-Abaji road project by Messrs GRB Construction Co. Nigeria Limited.
He commended the indigenous contractor for standing tall in the quality execution of the project awarded to them, assuring that Tinubu’s administration is favourably disposed to encouraging indigenous contractors through the ‘Nigeria First’ policy.
He also commended the quality of work on the inherited NNPC project on the Abuja-bound Abuja-Lokoja route in Kogi State handled by Messrs Trucrete, but urged the contractor to increase the pace of work as the Federal Ministry of Works hoped to get more funding as soon as possible.
“The President said NNPC projects must continue, and this time around, when we rescope it, we are going to agree on milestone completion. So, I want the contractor to start another section on shoulders. Let the carriageway continue,mixers can be used on the shoulders.”
Also speaking during the inspection, Bello Goronyo, the Minister of State for Works, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to completing the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project, which he noted would ease the movement and travel time of the road users when completed.
He said, “This project is in the dear heart of Mr. President.He has been very passionate about it. He has been pumping a lot of resources, very meticulous, and he has been directing that the Honourable Minister and myself should always be on this road. I believe that this is the fifth time we are coming here with the Honourable Minister to supervise this road. I thank the Honourable Minister for his experience and the knowledge that he is demonstrating on this project.”
