Infrastructure: Minister of state carries out palliative road inspection on Kaduna-Abuja road
By: Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
Following the need to deliver the dividends of democracy to all asundry in the area of infrastructures across the country, the Federal government, has carried out a palliative work inspection on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, to ensure its speedy completion for road users.
The Minister of State, Works and Housing, Mr. Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, carried out the inspection on Thursday, said major works on the highway will soon continue so as to reduce the negative effects posed on motorists and host Communities.
Mr. Umar who debunked speculations that the project have been abandoned, noted that the work was only stopped due to the challenge of insecurity on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, adding that the contractors only mobilised their resources to zone two and three, for security reasons.
He said, “well, Like you rightly observed, we are trying to inspect the road because this is the first section of the Abuja-Kaduna and Kano road project which have been under construction for sometimes now. However, the work was stopped by the contractor here in March, this year. We all remember the incidence that happened, the train attack which also heightened the tension of security wise, and the contractors thought it was not almost safe for them to continue the work on this section.
“They mobilised and relocated their resources to section two axis where we have seen the level of work being done. Work has been going on there. However, because they were not working here and the raining season also compounded the road situation, you now have several potholes on this section. Even the pallative work could not have been done effectively like the way we are seeing now because of the heavy traffic and of course the weather issue.”
He further stressed that major work will soon continue, considering the fact that the Nigerian security in collaboration with the Federal government, have been able to put the security situation under control, saying that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has given directives and have mobilised resources towards the successful completion of the project before the third quarter of next year.
“We are still optimistic that the section two and three will hopefully be completed between now and the first quarter of next year for commissioning. Meanwhile, this section will certainly take longer than that for obvious reasons. But the palliatives are going on now as you are here seeing. These are the most critical areas but these palliative will continue throughout the length of the road, so they will move to Abuja approach from the Kaduna end , haven taken care of the most critical areas.
“This is to assure Nigerians that this project is on course. We are here, we are going to be driving all the way through to Kano to see the second one. We have already been to section three but am going to begin another visit to section three which is the Zaria Kano end to also ensure that the report we have at the ministry is being achieved in terms of infrastructures.” Umar added.
He disclosed that the cost estimate was about seven hundred and ninety-seven billion naira due to other expenses added last year, appealed to Nigerians to be patient as the government is doing everything possible to deliver the Project for their common good.
Also, speaking with newsmen during the inspection exercise, the Assistant Director incharge of Zone 1, Engr. Usman Yakubu, said Julius Berger is committed to deliver quality and durable project, said they are just carrying out palliative project pending when the major contractor returns to site for the full implementation of the project.
He added that the road is stretched at 165,000Km from Abuja to Kaduna, noted that they are waiting for the main contractor to return so as to continue with the work in full.
In thesame vein, a commuter, Alhassan Doguwa, who spoke with Journalists said, “as a good samaritan and a representative of the people, i decided to stop and check what was going on.”
Doguwa, the Majority Leader of House of Representatives, who was plighing the Abuja-Kaduna road coincidentally, said he was surprised to see the minister in full force, conducting an oversight function.
Doguwa noted that the palliative work would give road users some relief especially knowing that it is a major high way connecting southern part of the country to the Northern part.
