Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has commended President Bola Tinubu for the addition of North-central and Northeast geopolitical zones in his legacy projects, particularly, the construction of Akwanga – Bauchi – Gombe, and Badagry – Sokoto road projects.
Governor Mohammed gave the commendation on Thursday when he received the Minister of Work, Senator David Umahi who was in the state to assess the breakaway Kano – Maiduguri Road at Bursali village near Azare town.
He expressed confidence that the Akwanga – Bauchi – Gombe road rehabilitation would also extend to Yola and Damaturu in Adamawa and Yobe states.
“Please convey our deepest respect and appreciation to Mr. President for this sense of responsiveness and statesmanship that he has expressed in the accommodation of the Northcentral and Northeast in his legacy programme,” Governor Mohammed said.
Speaking to the Minister, the Governor said, “You are doing so much. By the time you leave office, you would have assisted Mr. President to leave behind legacies and landmarks that would have surpassed anybody.
“And we as subnational, we would continue to give you constructive criticisms, and I hope we would not be misunderstood, because I served in the federal government and even in the presidency, and I know what the enormous powers of Mr. President and the enormous respect I have for him.”
Mohammed explained that with the visit of the minister, the Shira, Azare, Jama’are and Bulkachuwa cut-offs would be remediated, and assured of the state government’s support and cooperation towards the success of the minister on the projects.
“We are doing our best to intervene in some of your roads, even during the last administration, the federal government gave us approval on some of your roads – the Airport Road about 17 kilometers dual carriageway, and the University Road, and the previous one done along Jos Road,” he said.
The governor said however, that there is no demarcation between the state and federal roads as, according to him, the two have to complement one another, stressing that the level of neglect and abandonment over the years on our federal roads is so huge to overcome within a short while.
Speaking earlier, the Minister, Sen. Umahi noted that President Tinubu inherited an economy that was almost in a state of coma, hence the resolve of the President to take harsh economic policies in order not to fail the nation.
“If the President failed to take these very courageous decisions, I Am telling you, as somebody who has the business that started from the scratch, that would have failed the nation,” Umahi said.
He added that, “Mr. President has taken quiet and courageous decisions, but it may not be very clear to other citizens, especially those who were not deeply exposed, and when you have somebody who is sick, the first thing to do is First-aid”.
Senator David Umahi assured that the federal government would not only reconstruct the Akwanga – Bauchi – Gombe road, but would also dualise it for the economic development of the sub-region.
Umahi also visited the Kano – Maiduguri federal road cut-off where he sympathised with victims of the flood caused by the destruction of the road and assured of the federal government’s commitment to repair the section.
The minister also faulted the contractor for not adhering to its responsibility.
He commended Governor Mohammed for the quick response to intervene in the road with precautionary measures already put in place.
