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From John Bassey, Gusau
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has inspected the Zaria–Funtua–Sokoto road construction covering the distance between Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states, alongside a team of engineers. He expressed satisfaction with the quality and level of work carried out by the contractors on site.
The President also commissioned an emergency road repairs project at Gidan Dawa and the access road to the Federal Secretariat in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
The super-highway construction and rehabilitation special projects are divided into three sections. The first is the dualisation of the Zaria–Funtua–Sokoto road that covers Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states. Section II is Sheme–Tsafe–Gusau, 87 kilometres, while Section III is Gusau to Colony, Talata Mafara town, 93 kilometres.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Western region, Hon Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, President Tinubu said: “It is our immense pleasure to be here to inspect phase two of this North-Western projects inspection exercise. We were able to inspect phase one yesterday, which was handled by Mothercat, while this phase two is handled by Setraco.
“The total length of this Section II is 82km, and I am glad to announce to all Nigerians and supporters of the Renewed Hope initiative that this project is 52 per cent completed. Six of the 13 bridges have been solidly constructed, and the concrete pavement of the road is 15 metres, with the hope that, if completed successfully and properly used and protected, the road may last up to 50 or 100 years.”
The President commended the host communities for the support they are giving to the contractors and assured Mothercat, Triacta and Setraco construction companies of enhanced security coverage.
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President Tinubu also commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for his unwavering commitment to ensuring timely and efficient implementation of the road construction project.
Earlier, the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Works, Malam Muhammad Ahmed, said the exercise was a media tour to inspect and commission projects in the North-Western zone. “We were in Kaduna yesterday, and today we are in Zamfara,” he said, adding that the major aim of the tour is to demonstrate to Nigerians the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to fulfilling campaign promises and prioritising the welfare of Nigerians at all levels.
The Federal Controller of Works in Zamfara State, Engr Kasimu Yusuf, said the road construction project was awarded on 19 April 2023. He explained that phase one of the project was initially put at N105 billion but has now been split into phases one and two. At the moment, he said, the contractors are working assiduously, delivering the job according to specifications in order to complete it within the agreed time frame.
“At the first section, the contractors have confirmed that the level of work is at 52.5 per cent, with 25.5 per cent remaining to complete and deliver the work. At the second section, the contractors also confirmed that the level of work is at 69 per cent, meaning that if they continue to engage fully and relentlessly, they might complete the projects before the allotted time,” he said.
The controller noted that the major challenge faced during the road construction has been insecurity, and he commended the security agencies for their support in enhancing the speed of the work to these appreciable levels.
