ABUJA-KADUNA-KANO ROAD READY IN 14 MONTHS

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According to Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual highway will be operational in 14 months.

This was announced by Idris on Thursday during the opening of the road’s section 1 (from Abuja to Kaduna) rigid pavement rehabilitation.

The road’s first section runs from Abuja to Kaduna, the second from Kaduna to Zaria, and the third from Zaria to Kano.

The description and scope of the work involve filling embankments and pulverising and scarifying the existing bituminous surface as sub-base material.

In addition, certified crushed rock material (dry or wet) up to 100 mm thick with 3% stabilisation in shoulders and carriageways, as well as drains lined with reinforced concrete and other hydraulic structures as needed, are provided.

Similar to this, further descriptions and scope of work include the installation of CRCP 200mm thick on the roadway and shoulders, as well as median barriers and median drains where required.

Idris claimed that David Umahi, the works minister, had provided a thorough explanation and resolved the road’s political issues.

“President Bola Tinubu is very committed and determined to ensure that this road from Abuja to Kano is completed in record time of 14 months.

“This is the reason the government cancelled the road contract with the former contractor who said it would complete the road in three years and the government refused and insisted on 14 months.

“That is also why it was broken into three segments for ease of construction. Nigerians, especially those plying this road, are anxious to see that the road is completed, ” he said.

He said that delay of any kind would not be accepted.

“The President has given a matching order, and the National Assembly is also given them the necessary cooperation and there will be no issues.

“Within 14 months, we are going to have a brand new road from Abuja end to Kano,” Idris said.

Meanwhile, Umahi explained that there was an extension of the road to Aminu Kano International Airport and another five-kilometre extension on the Abuja-Lokoja end of the road.

According to Umahi, Section 1 of the road starts at Zuba Junction, Zuba Interchange and terminates at Kaduna Western Bypass in Kaduna.

He said that the road, which will have solar lights, would last between 50 and 100 years.

“Note that the existing pavement between Abuja to Kaduna has undergone different levels of deterioration over the years.

“This has caused failure due to alligator cracks, corrugation, shoving, underground pumping, rutting, ravelling, potholes and poor drainage.

“The ministry quickly intervened by commencing emergency repairs on this stretch in order to ameliorate the suffering of the road users.

“The maintenance work is in progress in four different stretches simultaneously in order to fast-track the repair works,” Umahi said.