Minister of state for works Bello Mohammad Goronyo has charged community leaders to prevent vandalism of road projects across the country.
He gave the charge while inspecting the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project yesterday.
The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano was awarded to Messrs Infiouest International Limited on March 12, 2025 at the sum N507bn.
The 72.08km dual highway is estimated to be completed in April 2026.
The minister said hoodlums had been vandalising roads in search of iron rods.
He called on community leaders to ensure proper protection and maintenance of road projects in their domains.
He said, “Maintenance means a lot. Prevention of road abuses is part of road maintenance. Particularly, we have noticed even along this corridor, along this road, some people go overnight and begin to break some of the road infrastructure and remove iron roads.
“We have noticed that even on completed projects along Jaji Bridge in Kaduna where some hoodlums–babambola went through the bridge to remove iron roads. On this one you can notice some people are drying their grains, they are dumping refuse, they are also breaking our roads to pass away some cables.
“We want to call on community leaders to please caution their wards to try as much as possible to keep this road in good condition because of the huge investments, the huge funds that have been allocated to this project,” he said.
On the performance of the contractor, he said the project had progressed accordingly.
“We have passed through various road construction stages from the earthwork to stone base to priming to reinforcements all the way to concrete works. And you can see the beauty of this road and the contractor is fully on site working tirelessly,” he added.
He added that President Bola Tinubu was committed to completing the road project in record time.
Also speaking, the director, Federal Highways, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Clement Ogbuagu, said the progress of work was encouraging.
He said the contractor had kept faith with the agreed timetable.
He noted that in line with the president’s directive, the minister of works, Engr. Dave Umahi, had never relented on his oars to make sure that the road was delivered on time.
