From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has absolved himself and President Bola Tinubu of the shortfall in road distribution in Nigeria.
Umahi made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, in Bauchi. He said even though the shortfall was inherited, the president is addressing it.
“I want to let you know that the shortfall in terms of road distribution was not done by President Tinubu. It wasn’t done by me, but Mr. President is addressing it, and that’s why we have injected the fourth legacy project of the President that runs from Akwanga to Jos to Bauchi State, and we are happy to see that you have intervened progressively and critically on a good percentage of the road in your state” he said.
The minister spoke of the president’s determination to ensure that funding was made available for the legacy projects through different intervention mechanisms.
“The president is taking us to China, because there was an agreement before, when this project was listed for funding on EPC + F, and the Chinese people were supposed to inject foreign financing on the roads, but they didn’t immediately do that. So the president is reviving it and we will be in China soon. We are very sure that we’ll be able to get that funding and this road will not only be constructed, but it will also be dualised.” Umahi said.
In a statement, the minister visited the flood- damaged locations of Kano– Maiduguri Road, the dualisation of Kano – Maiduguri Road Section 3 (washout location at Buskuri town), the dualisation of Kano – Maiduguri Road Section 2 (at Sabon Gari village), the flooded area of Yana – Shiva – Azare Road, the bridge along Bauchi – Gombe Road, Ningi – Babaldu washout, and he also performed the flag-off of the Bauchi-Gombe Road being handled by Triacta Nig Limited. While acknowledging the pains and difficulties faced by road users whose livelihood has been affected by the effect of the flood, he assured them that intervention would be timely provided to bring immediate reliefs to the people of the state and other road users.
Earlier, the Governor of Bauchi State Senator Bala Mohammed commended the president for promptly sending the Minister of Works to visit and assess the damaged sections of the road in the state with a view to providing intervention. He said that the state government and the entire Emirate Council were gratified by the rare proactiveness and sense of responsiveness demonstrated by the Federal Government at the difficult moment of the state.