Bauchi Approves N1.5bn For 25km Zaki Rural Road

The Bauchi State Executive Council (SEC) has approved N1.5 billion for the completion of the 25-kilometre Garingami-Murmur-Madufa rural road in Zaki local government area of the state.

The meeting held on Thursday was chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed.

The commissioner for Special Duties and Rural Development, Hon Faruk Mustapha, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the meeting.

He explained that the intervention became necessary following severe flooding during the last rainy season, which damaged critical sections of the road and stalled work at about 16 percent completion.

According to him, the project was originally awarded at N5.6 billion under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP). However, flooding in November 2024, attributed to climate change caused significant damage, halting construction activities.

Mustapha noted that because the RAAMP programme, backed by the World Bank and the French Development Agency, does not permit contract variations, the state government had to step in to address additional costs.

He said the intervention would cover expenses such as the haulage of construction materials from Azare, a distance of about 110 kilometres each way, due to the absence of suitable materials within the project area.

The commissioner further explained that the state government also intervened in the construction of bridges beyond the 1.5-metre limit allowed under the RAAMP framework, particularly in flood-prone sections requiring bridges of up to five or six metres.

He added that the road would be elevated above flood levels to prevent future washouts and ensure durability, especially during the rainy season.

Mustapha stated that the contractor, Triacta Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with project consultants, the taskforce, and supervising engineers, developed a harmonised solution to address the challenges.

He emphasised that upon completion, the road would significantly enhance the movement of agricultural produce and boost economic activities across the affected rural communities.

The council subsequently ratified the memo approving the N1.5 billion intervention, bringing additional support to the initial N5.6 billion contract awarded for the construction of the double-coat surface rural road.