JUST IN: FG PROMISES TO COMPLETE ABUJA-KADUNA ROAD THIS YEAR
Read Time:2 Minute, 7 Second
By Sefiu Ajape
Again, the Federal Government has pledged to deliver the uncompleted section of the Abuja-Kaduna before the end of the year.
According to reports, it was claimed that since the project’s contract was given on December 20, 2018, the government has repeatedly pledged to finish it.
In order to lessen the negative effects on road users, Umar El-Yakub, the former minister of state, works and housing, stated in October 2022 that work on the Kaduna-Abuja highway and the Zaria-Kano route would be finished in early 2023.
Similarly, in April 2023, Babatunde Fashola, the previous Minister of Works and Housing, claimed that the current administration was unable to keep its word because of security issues encountered in 2022 and the forced displacement of several villages on the 265km road project’s Zaria sector.
However, Minister of Works, David Umahi, speaking at a meeting with all directors of the ministry on Thursday in Abuja, assured that the ministry is ready to overcome all contractual obstacles and ensure delivery of the project for the benefit of Nigerians before the end of 2024.
The former governor of Ebonyi State claims that the contractors have asked for a review of the N1.3 billion project financing price.
Umahi said, “We have about 1.7 kilometers left of Abuja-Kaduna in two sections. The ministry has some supervision work to be done tomorrow on that road and we will be advised on the real designs of the two sections.
“Funding is also an issue because it is under the presidential development fund initiative gotten from looted funds. I have had to discuss with Mr president about the importance of the road for all Northerners.
“But I won’t be able to go back to him until we re-scope it because the project was N165bn before and a review brought the cost to N655bn but today the contractor is asking for N1.35trillion and the government cannot afford it.
“What they are asking is very wrong. So we are looking at existing sub-grade and see what we can do about it. We are also looking at the first 40km to be constructed by Dangote under the Tax credit scheme to do it on concrete pavement but I am very committed to completing that road this year. No matter what happens, that road will be done this year.”
The reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, currently handled by Julius Berger is funded under the Presidential Development fund initiatives and is divided into three sections.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0