FG eyes China for Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi road funding – Umahi
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has announced plans by the Federal Government to reconstruct Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road as part of its Renewed Hope road infrastructure projects.
Umahi explained that already, the Ministry‘s engineers have already designed the road which is intended to connect states in the North East and the North Central.
The minister revealed this during a courtesy visit to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, at the Bauchi Government House, Bauchi, on Thursday.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser (Media), Hon. Orji Uchenna Orji, in Abuja.
While addressing the governor, Umahi said, “I want to thank you very highly, and to let you know that the shortfall in terms of road distribution was not done by President Tinubu, it wasn’t done by me, but Mr. President is addressing it, and that’s why we have injected the fourth legacy project of the President that runs from Akwanga to Jos to Bauchi State, and we are happy to see that you have intervened progressively and critically on a good percentage of the road in your State.”
The Minister equally emphasized the importance of the four Renewed Hope legacy projects which he said, was not only strategic in terms of seamless connectivity to the 6 Geo-Political Zones, but also a strategic architectural masterplan that would stimulate the economy of the Nation through enhanced agriculture, job creation, regional integration, tourism, transportation ecosystem and industralisation.
He also spoke of the President’s determination to ensure that funding was made available for the legacy projects through different intervention mechanisms.
Umahi said, “The President is taking us to China, because there was an agreement before, when this project was listed for funding on EPC + F, and the Chinese people were supposed to inject foreign financing on the roads, but they didn’t immediately do that.
“So the President is reviving it, and we will be in China soon. We are very sure that we’ll be able to get that funding, and this road will not only be constructed, but it will also be dualized.”
The Minister also visited the flood damaged locations of Kano – Maiduguri road, the dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road Section 3 (washout location at Buskuri town), the dualization of Kano – Marduguri Road Section 2 (at Sabon Gari village), the flooded area of Yana – Shiva – Azare road, the bridge along Bauchi – Gombe road, Ningi – Babaldu washout, and he also performed the flag – off of the Bauchi-Gombe road being handled by Triacta Nig Ltd.
While acknowledging the pains and difficulties faced by road users whose livelihood has been affected by the flood, he assured them that intervention would be timely provided to bring immediate reliefs to the people of the State and other road users.
In response, the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, commended the President for promptly sending the Minister of Works to visit and assess the damaged sections of the road in the State with a view to providing intervention.
He said that the State government and the entire Emirate Council were gratified by the rare proactiveness and sense of responsiveness demonstrated by Federal Government at this difficult moment of the State.
