Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola assured that three major projects; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, and Kano-Abuja road projects would get stable funding until completion. Fashola disclosed this at the flag-off of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project in Kano. The 375.4km road project was awarded to Julius Berger Plc at N155,470,626,078.07 with 36 months completion period. The Minister said uninterrupted funding of the projects will be sourced from the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Fashola explained that the benefiting projects earlier suffered neglect for 10 years despite buoyancy of the past administration. His words: “The existing 25 roads are only a part of 200 roads that need to be funded. Strategic roads which carry some of the heaviest traffic and which connect the north and south of the country, the second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano road project have either being stalled or simply deteriorated for about a decade for lack of funding at a time when the country made a lots of money from the sale of crude oil. “President Muhammadu Buhari has again brought change. After the SUKUK, he has now approved an infrastructure development fund. “These three projects, Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway are the first beneficiary of the infrastructure developed fund.” He added that “What change means now is that work will no longer stop on these three projects on the account of lack of funding once they are put in the budget.”
The Minister noted that the contractors working on Lagos-Ibadan road and second Niger Bridge had been mobilized while Julius Berger construction firm is expected to commence work on the third project shortly after the flag-off. Fashola emphasised that there would be no reason to stop work on the three projects stressing that the President already assured such will not happen until it’s full completion. Earlier, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi described the project as belated but applauded the Federal Government of Nigeria for the intervention. He said it would contribute significantly to developing rural communities as well as serving as job creation opportunity.
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Sanusi commended Federal Government for awarding the project to Julius Berger, emphasizing on the good reputation and capacity of the construction firm. Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Senator Kabir Gaya was excited for the flag-off stressing that the road was abandoned for over 21 years, yet it’s reconstruction commenced during his term as a serving senator. He applauded the President and Fashola for delivering on promises made to the people of Kano state. In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje decried high rate of casualties recorded on the road due to its neglect. He said road mishaps were recorded almost on daily basis. Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Afeez Abubakar said the reconstruction would salvage hardship regularly witnessed on the roads by commuters.
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Managing Director, Julius Berger, Engr. Wolfgang Goetsch called for proper road maintenance culture while he assured on timely delivery. Describing Fashola as Grand Commander of Works, he noted that the Kano-Abuja dual carriageway is of high significance that will benefit the people and connect the north to the southern part of the country.
Source: The Nation
