FG, State Government Team Up on Infrastructural Development- Fashola
Federal Government has no objection in States assisting to develop the road infrastructure located within their domains provided the terms of reference as provided by the Federal Government are respected. This will go a long way in deepening the dividends of democracy at the grassroots.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola stated this at the Government House, Kebbi and Jigawa States while being received by the Governors, Sen. Atiku Abubakar Bagudu and Mohammed Badaru Abubakar respectively at the just concluded 2 – day inspection tour of on-going projects in the two States which commenced 8th May, 2018.
Fashola had inspected the National Housing Programmes in the two states as well as the 108km Kalgo-Bunza-Kamba-Peka Road which terminates at the nations border with Niger Republic on the first day of his visit as well as paid courtesy calls on the two Governors..
A total of 93km stretch of the Kalgo-Bunza-Kamba-Peka-Niger Republic Border Federal road was rehabilitated with asphalt overlay by the Kebbi State Government at the sum of N1,041,753,716.17 awarded to Messrs. CGC Nigeria Limited and this has since been reimbursed by the Federal Government while 15km of the road is still outstanding. The Minister was impressed with the standard of work and noted that the Federal Government remains committed to partnering with any state government that showed concern in providing critical infrastructure for the benefit of all citizens.
While still in Kebbi, Fashola also inspected the on-going rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Yauri (Sokoto/Kebbi/Niger States) phase 1 Section 11: Jega-Birnin Yauri Road (186km) which is only 22.84% completed.
At the pilot scheme of the National Housing Programmes (NHP) in both states which had a total of 38 Blocks of 76 flats each, comprising 3,2 and 1 bedroom flats, with some already completed and delivered by the contractors and others at different stages of completion, Fashola stated that the Federal Government will embark on a full scale housing economy at the end of the pilot scheme which is bound to create more than the 1,000 workers presently employed at each site in the 33 States where the NHP is currently active. He further stated that it will also triple the ecosystem of trade and commerce at the sites which has improved the economies and financial capacities of the locals and communities around the NHP sites nationwide.
The Governor of Kebbi State, Sen. Artiku Abubakar Bagudu in response offered the Federal Government as much land as would be required for the full take-off of the programme and also thanked the Federal Government for the speedy response at reimbursing the State for the Kalgo-Bunza-Kamba-Peka-Niger Republic Border road. He noted that the Federal Government will seldom use the road but the indigenes of the state, surrounding states, border nations and other road users will enjoy the road.
Also responding, the Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru invited the Minister to help commission 8 of the 10 completed state infrastructure stating that Mr. President had offered to commission two of the projects. He invited the Minister to also inspect the 1,300km road projects completed by his administration as a way of boosting transportation of agricultural products in the state.
Fashola concluded his 2-day tour by inspecting the on-going rehabilitation of 32.8km Hadeja-Nguru Road Phase 11 in Jigawa State by Messrs. Mothercat Nig. Ltd. which is currently at 84.93% completion.
Theodore Ogaziechi
Director Information, Power, Works and Housing
