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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has approved over N42 billion for the construction and reconstruction in five northeastern states.
Speaking on the road construction and reconstruction in the North East, the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and Transportation Minister Mu’azu Sambo, said these while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting.
According to Umar-Farouq, the four memos presented and approved by the council are road construction, and reconstruction for five states of the North East region, namely Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi.
“For Borno, we have a 22.5-kilometre road that is to be reconstructed. This road is Ngom-Koshebe and Ngom-Zabarmari-Gongulong-Kajari road with the contract sum of N13,553,902,668.95“The second contract is on the reconstruction of 53 Kilometer Gombe-Abba-Dukurfi Road in Gombe Road and Bauchi state in the contract sum of N11,697,355,449.61.“The other road is the 54-kilometre Mutayi-Ngalda road in Yobe state with the contract sum of N12,199,182,845.70.“The fourth one is the one for Adamawa State, Garkida road, it has a contract sum of N6,202,214,413.29 inclusive of 7.5 VAT. Garkida road in Adamawa State located at the fringes of the Sambisa forest.
“All these roads are being taken into consideration and selected in conjunction with the state governments and other critical stakeholders. These roads are expected to stimulate our economic activities, enhance security and facilitate the freer movement of goods and people in these affected states within the zone.
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“The ministry also is in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Housing and in the co-funding of various roads in the North East region. As you’re aware you’re not is Development Commission was established in 2017. To address issues of rebuilding, reconstructing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating the people of the North East who have been affected by the insurgency.
“We are also in partnership and collaboration with the Nigerian Society of engineers in the area of engaging reputable local consultants for the design and supervision of the major works in line with the executive order five for promoting local content in science, engineering, and technology. All the four memos were considered and graciously approved by council.”
Sambo, fielding questions on the suspension of the service following the March 2022 attack on the train, explained that two core matters remain at the heart of the Abuja-Kaduna train services.
According to him, these include families traumatised over their family members still in captivity by terrorists and the need to have surveillance facilities to monitor the tracks.
He said the government is looking at the best options in terms of the surveillance including concessioning it in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Asked about the exact timelines to execute the initiative, Muazu said: “If I give a timeline, I’ll be lying to you. It will be insensitive to restart the service if some families weep day and night over their family members still in the bush.”
The minister said the government is mindful of the cost involved but should be able to report definite progress in about a month.
The Minister revealed that FEC approved a contract for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) worth about N1.49 billion for the repair of the crane.
