NEWS

WE CONSTRUCTED 639KM ROADS SO FAR, SAYS GOVERNOR ABDULLAHI A. SULE 

By Ali Abare 

... urges FG to expedite action on Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto Road, others

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has said that his administration has so far constructed 639km of road networks cutting across the three senatorial zones of the state.

Governor Sule disclosed this while delivering his address as the special guest during the 30th mid-term review meeting of the National Council of Works (NCW) which held in Lafia on Wednesday. 

While highlighting the development strides recorded by his administration since coming into office in 2019, the Governor emphasized that these roads, which are constructed with hydraulic structures such as bridges, culvert and drainage, can be categorised into three namely asphalt, surface dressing, or earthworks.

"It is pertinent to state that since our assumption of office on May 29th, 2019, we have constructed about 639km road networks across the three senatorial districts of Nasarawa State.  These roads are constructed along with hydraulic structures, bridges, culvert, and drainage, either to asphaltic pavement finish, surface dressing finish, or earthworks finish," he stated.

Governor Sule mentioned some of the road construction undertaken by his administration that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the dualization of the Keffi-Wamba Road, as well as Jos-Makurdi Road, both in Akwanga, including the underpass.

Also, the construction of the combined interchange in Lafia, the underpass and flyover, with two circular intercession for enhanced free flow of traffic, as well as the construction of a bridge in Kilema along the Lafia-Doma federal highway to address perennial flood in the area.

"The construction of flyover bridge along Keffi-Abuja, which is CS0.00 to address incessant accidents which have consumed several lives and properties. The Wamba-Sisin Baki Road which opened up the entire area to the wild life park, the tourism centre as well as the opportunity for power generation," he added.

He however appreciated the Federal Ministry of Works for giving approval to his administration to undertake these projects.

Governor Sule also used the opportunity to clear insinuations suggesting that the Lafia flyover and underpass pass is a project belonging to the Federal Government. 

"I wish to thank the Federal Government for the dualization of the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Road. This has greatly reduced travel time between Lafia and Abuja. I will continue to say this because when we started work on these federal roads, at the beginning, what we call opposition in Nasarawa State said we did not need to do that. We don't need a flyover, an underpass. The moment we completed the roads and they become so beautiful, they will say, he is not the one that did it, it is the Federal Government.  I am sure the Federal Government is here today to tell them if they did the roads or we did the roads," he said.

He equally called on the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite action on the completion of three key road projects namely the Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto Road, Doma-Rutu-Rafin Gabas-Nasarawa-Orozo Road, as well as the Wamba-Bokkos Road in Plateau State. 

"Contracts for most of these roads were awarded a long time ago but there is slow pace in the execution of these projects. It is my hope that these three requests would receive immediate action," he said.

The Governor commended the Federal Ministry of Works for selecting Nasarawa State to host the 30th mid-term review meeting on the implementation of decisions reached at the 29th National Council of Works.

"I also appreciate the invitation extended to me to serve as the special guest of honour.  This decision, I believe, is not unconnected to the commitment of our administration in the infrastructural development of the state," he said.

He described the theme of the event,  "Accessing Renewed Hope Transformation of the Road Transport Sector so far" as not only apt but provided a veritable opportunity for participants to reflect back at their collective achievements in the road sector so far. 

In his address, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, showed appreciation to both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sule for accepting to collaborate with his ministry in organising and hosting the 30th edition of the mid-term review meeting.

The Minister described the meeting as a vital mechanism for assessing the level of implementation of decisions reached at the 29th National Council of Works in order to ensure that the resolutions adopted are effectively implemented in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu.

"As the key driver of national roads infrastructure development, the Federal Ministry of Works is committed to executing its core mandate which includes development and maintenance of an efficient road network that connects every part of Nigeria for stronger economic integration and ease of movement, enhancing road safety and reducing travel time through improved road infrastructure," he said.

Represented at the event by Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Minister of State Works, Umahi described the NCW as a critical platform for policy formulation, review and implementation within the road sector. 

He added that the resolutions from the 29th NCW are pivotal in driving development and maintenance of the country's national infrastructure. 

Earlier in a welcome address, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Works, Muazu Adamu Gosho, said the decision by the Federal Ministry of Works to concede the hosting rights to Nasarawa State was not surprising and cannot be faulted, especially with the huge, verifiable success story of roads infrastructure development in the state.