Stakeholders across Kwara and Niger states have commended President Bola Tinubu for the bold step to construct the 1000-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry superhighway.
The Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Niger State counterpart, Umaru Bago called the project another evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to drive phenomenal socioeconomic growth.
The stakeholders spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday, where a stakeholders’ engagement was held to brief the public on the Kwara and Niger sections of the superhighway as well as rally public support for it and other initiatives of the Tinubu’s administration.
At least 188 kilometres of the road cut through different Kwara communities, while 125kilomteres of it are on Niger land.
The stakeholders’ session was at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Works, and was attended by Niger State governor, deputy governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi, federal and state lawmakers, including Kwara North’s Sadiq Umar, minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamilah Bio; state cabinet members; royal fathers; industrialists led by Dr. Kamoru Yusuf of KAM Holdings; party stalwarts; community leaders; transport unions; farmers’ associations; civil society organisations; marketers associations; and the youths.
AbdulRazaq said the proposed road project attests to the bold vision of President Tinubu to develop infrastructure, which enhances national connectivity and helps to grow the economy.
“What we are doing this afternoon is another testament to the bold vision of President Tinubu and another evidence that our country is in a race to align development priorities and population growth with commensurate infrastructure that connects every part of Nigeria. But much more important is the decision of the President to make the people the centrepiece of this bold vision,” AbdulRazaq said.
The governor, who was attending another significant event with the President in the national capital Abuja as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was represented by Alabi.
“For the avoidance of doubt, 188 kilometres of the road traverse different towns and communities of Kwara State. The socioeconomic implications of this Renewed Hope Infrastructure Project for national connectivity and growth cannot be fully appreciated by this generation,” he added.
Abdulrazaq applauded the minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi for the excellent job of combining the expertise of this critical terrain with the political skills of pushing through the different land mines.
“This conversation has helped our people to own the initiative, and I assure Mr. President and his team that our people will give all the support to see it through,” he added.
The Niger State governor Umar Bago, urged the people from Kwara and Niger to support the federal government and take ownership of the road projects, saying the projects are for their own good.
“We need to tell our people that the government is not grabbing your land; the federal government is bringing development to you. We will not pay one kobo for compensation because it is for your good,” Bago said.
The governor said locals should support the project because of its accompanying benefits, cautioning communities against disturbing contractors or the government for compensation.
The minister of Works, David Umahi, who commended the supportive roles of Governors AbdulRazaq and Bago for the president, said the ministry has 18 federal projects in Kwara State, saying more efforts will go into some of them that are deemed to be behind their implementation schedules.
“We are going to engage with the Governor, commissioner for works, the federal controller of works, and the ministry, and review the projects and give them priorities,” he added.
“Four projects are ongoing on tax credit with BUA (in Kwara). They have assured me that these projects will be delivered soon. They are all government projects under President Tinubu. They are not social service projects from the company. We are the one funding it under a different funding mechanism.”
Umahi appreciated AbdulRazaq and Bago for hosting the engagement and their hospitality during the deliberations.
He also commended the roles of the ministers of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and Dr. Jamila Bio in the approval of the Kaiama-Tesse-Kishi Road for construction.
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