Our Commitment to Infrastructure Development Bearing Results - Buhari President Muhamadu Buhari has said that the commitment of his administration in infrastructure development across the nation is already bearing results.  The President spoke over the weekend in Gashua, Yobe State, north-eastern Nigeria during the official commissioning and handover of the completed section I phase II and section II phase I of the Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari road.   President Buhari was represented at the event by the Honourable Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar D. Aliyu, FNSE. “Our commitment to improving road transport infrastructure, our determination to improve the ease of doing business, create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty brings us here today because the results of our investment are manifesting,” he said. Accordingly, he explained that the road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if well used and not abused, it should last for the designed service life. While assuring Nigerians about the desire of his administration to complete all ongoing projects, President Buhari said “I can confidently say that as we enter the final lap of the tenure of the Buhari administration we are also entering a season of completion and delivery of projects.” The President also cautioned Nigerians to desist from indiscreet road abuses, comply with the highway code, and reminded them to adhere to the maximum 100 kilometers per hour speed limit on Federal Highways nationwide. “Now that we have this new and well-built road, we have duties to ourselves and to other road users and one of those duties is to ensure that we drive in accordance with the law as stipulated in the Highway Code.” He listed the road abuses to include: overloading of vehicles which accelerates pavement damage; spilling of petroleum products, which dissolves all the components and allows water to penetrate, and converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, that brings the onset of road failure from the shoulder. " Nigerian citizens should do their best to avoid these practices, and to report them when they occur and also act in a lawful manner to stop them" he said. Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola represented by the Director Highways, North-East, Engr Celestine Shawusu, said that the projects represent major investment in road Transport infrastructure, which was a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity. He explained that the projects were visible and incontrovertible assets in proof of what Nigeria’s resources are invested in, from a combination of our earned resources, and borrowings. Fashola also acknowledged and commended the commitment of the President and his Vice, the professionalism of staff of the Ministry in the delivering of the projects and the support of Ministers in the Federal Executive Council and the members of the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Works in the 8th and 9th Assembly for their support. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, represented by the Yobe State Federal Controller of Works, Engr O.B. Akinmade, said that the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari has focused its attention on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, create jobs and promote local content. He explained that it was part of the developmental agenda of the administration in addressing road infrastructural development of Nigeria. “The focus is to link the major arterial roads to refineries, ports, tertiary institutions and high-volume commercial centers with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters.” he said. In his remarks, Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni stated that the project was both historic and important to the State. He said after several years of neglect by previous governments, the Buhari's administration has been able to rehabilitate the road for our use. He said: " the importance of the road to the socio-economic development cannot be overemphasized." On his part, the Emir of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman thanked President Buhari and said that ten years ago, journey from Nguru to Gashua usually takes them about two and half hour, but they now make the journey in less than forty-five minutes. "This has facilitated movement of goods from our farms to the market thereby boosting our economic activities," he said. A road user by name Abubakar Babaginda commended Federal Government for the road saying travel time has reduced drastically. " Before now we find it difficult to ply this road, we spend many hours to get to Gashua due to the bad road, but now we spend fewer time. We are grateful, " he said. ...

FG Committed to The Completion of Abuja - Kaduna - Kano Road - Engr, F. Esan The federal government has reiterated its commitment towards the completion of the Abuja - Kaduna-Kano Road phase 2 & 3 soonest. The Director of Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunso Esan stated this while inspecting the road construction by Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd on Friday 1st July, 2022. Esan confirmed that the two sections, section 1 & 2 of the road are the major concentration now while section 1 will take of shortly. "It's the same road and if we deliver a section of the road that means we are done with that particular section as you can see in this section two being inspected and section 3, that means we can concentrate our resources in section one” he said The Director said the project is being done in phases with the first phase being the 74km Kaduna-Zaria section, which is already nearing completion. He said that the second phase, which is the 137Km Zaria-Kano section, will be completed in the first quarter of 2023 while the last phase, the Abuja-Kaduna will be taking off. Folorunso added that the issues concerning challenges which the contractor was encountering in the cause of the work has been addressed and so nothing hopefully will stop them from working and also the   relocation of facilities causing obstruction on the road construction like electric poles has been attended to, noting that the contractor is going to meet up with the contract completion date. " Challenges are addressed and there is nothing that will stop then from working, another thing is relocation of facilities, for which approval has been gotten by the contractor to remove any obstruction on the site" he said The Director said he is impressed with the level of work on going, the quality and standard meets FG expectations. He encouraged them to keep up with the pace and not to hesitate to report any challenge that may crop up at any time.   The site manager of Julius Berger Construction Company for section 2, Engr. Theo Scheepers thanked the Ministry who timely helped tackle all the challenges and little hurdles they had earlier encountered. He promised that the contract will be completed six months before the date of agreed completion given them elapses. Also, for the section 3, Zaria to Kano, the site Manager, Engr. Finn Drosdowki is also of the same view that they are going to meet up with the completion date. ...

Timely Completion of The Rehabilitation of Kaduna - Pambeguwa - Jos Road Assured - Engr. F. Esan The Director, Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunsho Esan has assured the completion of Kaduna - Pambeguwa - Jos Road in Kaduna and Plateau state within the next 12 months. The Director made this known during an inspection tour on the road recently to ascertain the progress and level of work done so far by the contractor. Esan is optimistic that the rehabilitation work on the road will be completed in due cause saying he is highly satisfied with the quality and pace of work on the road. " Yes, the quality of work is satisfactory, we have 35km of binder and if you don't look properly, you'd think the job is finished. We are still expecting another layer on top.18% is done currently because 35km out of 190km is 18%, which shows there is a lot of progress from the date the contract was awarded" he said. The Director confirmed that the funding of the project is not a problem as the source of funding the project has already been mapped out. "Everything is together, when you think of the time of completion, you'd think of the funding that is available, the funding has to match the time frame and we are trying with what we have to ensure that the project is completed within the next 12 months" he said. Esan encouraged the contractor to continue with the pace of work and that whatever challenge they may encounter, will be attended to in good time. " They should not stop work; they should continue working. Whatever is the problem would be solved and they should just keep up the pace of work" he said. At the inspection of the road too, the Director, Highway, North West, Engr. Adebayo Taiwo said that the road has added value and economically impacted on a lot of communities along the road corridor. "You can see that this road cut across many states, starting from Kaduna and going towards Jos border and there is also a spur to Bauchi. So, there is a lot of economic impact. Agricultural areas are being more accessible, rural communities too are now being well connected" he said. He pointed out that the road has helped the local communities to have easy access to bigger cities like Kaduna to sell their farm produce. " you can see that this particular location we passed now, where there is a settlement, with drainage and proper layout makes easy access to Kaduna and if they want to go to Jos too they can easily connect to move their agricultural products" he said. While explaining the progress of work done so far, the contractor handling the project Messes Setraco Nig. Limited represented by the project Manager, Engr. Jabir Mustapha appreciated the Ministry for the award of the contract and confirmed that funding of the project has not been a challenge.  He noted that all the communities along the road are cooperating with them. He promised that the road project will be delivered on time but noted that the rainy season might reduce the pace of work but the specifications and the standard must be maintained. He thanked the Ministry for regular release of funds.  He also appreciated the nearby communities for their security support. The Engineer's representative on site, Engr. Eyitayo Aluko gave the project description saying that, the existing road is approximately 199.50km in length.  The project begins from Maraban Jos to Tudor Fulani in Plateau State border 189.9km, while spur begins from Saminaka junction to Bauchi State border 9.6km.  The road he said serves as a link road from Kaduna State and other North Western States to Plateau and other North Eastern States of the country. ...