Umahi Meets North Central Govs Over 477km Cross River-Abuja Highway Project

Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi has called on North Central governors and critical stakeholders from Nasarawa, Benue and Kogi States to support the federal government in the execution of the proposed 477-kilometer Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Apo superhighway.

Umahi who made the call during the stakeholders engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Works on the alignment of superhighways for the Renewed Hope Legacy Infrastructure Project in Lafia, Nasarawa State yesterday said the project is an investment that would serve as a catalyst that would revive the economy of the country.

Out of the 477 kilometers, the North Central has 284 kilometers.

The details showed that Nasarawa has 95 kilometers; Kogi 111 Km; Benue 66Km while the FCT has 12Km.

Umahi assured that the proposed superhighway as a legacy project of the present administration would bring a lot of benefits to all Nigerians, particularly residents of the benefiting states.

The minister expressed the commitment of the federal government to the completion of the Lagos-Ondo-Edo-Delta-Bayelsa-Rivers-Akwa Ibom-Cross Rivers and the Sokoto-Kebbi-Niger-Kwara-Oyo-Ogun-Badagry superhighways.

He disclosed that all the road projects would be reinforced concrete that could last to up to 50 years before any maintenance is required.

“Each of these sections is going to be on reinforced concrete. Each of these sections has six lanes. It also has a train track. We are also using solar streetlights.

“The benefits of these three legacy projects cannot be overemphasised.   Sokoto-Badagry has 53 dams on that section. Any road properly constructed on concrete, for the next 50 years you will not touch it. Lagos-Calabar has a lot of potential.  In fact, we are aiming at finishing the first section 47.7km by May next year and we will be tolling it immediately,” he said.

He said the federal executive council had directed that federal government projects spread across the states that have remained uncompleted for a long period should be determined and priotised.

He spoke on the request by the North East to be linked with the legacy road projects, adding that he intends to seek the views of stakeholders from the region on how the region could be connected.

Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, thanked the federal government for embarking on the project that had been in the pipeline for decades, while expressing their commitment to give adequate cooperation for its success.