On the N348.59bn approved for Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola recently commissioned the second Niger Bridge, as part of the federal government’s effort to link the south-east with south-south and to boost the economy of the nation.  However, I want to use this medium to remind the minister about the N348.59 billion approved by the government around […]

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola recently commissioned the second Niger Bridge, as part of the federal government’s effort to link the south-east with south-south and to boost the economy of the nation. 

However, I want to use this medium to remind the minister about the N348.59 billion approved by the government around 2018 for the dualisation of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi and Gombe roads. Sir, though the government was said to have approved the money yet, there is nothing in place for over five years now 

The road is crucial to the northeastern region of the country that has been facing the challenge of poor road networks, especially from Plateau to Bauchi and Gombe states. The road linking Jos to Bauchi is one of the busiest roads in Nigeria recording a high number of passengers daily but not in a good shape resulting in accidents and  robberies daily. 

Again, the majority of the people in the two regions are farmers and herdsmen who are using the roads to transport their farm produce and cattle to the South South, South West and South East to sell. 

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Besides, dualising the roads linking the two regions, will facilitate the nation’s agribusiness in many aspects as well as ease movement of people within that axis.  

It is thus painful  that four years, since the contract for the project was awarded and the money approved by the government, yet there is no hope for its completion before the end of the life of this administration. We recall that  the minister said the project would be completed in 48  months so what exactly is the problem? 

I want to call the attention of the minister of works and housing to please check on the contractors and find out the reasons why the project is not progressing all these years. 

Let me hasten to remind the minister that hastening the completion of the road would bring relief to millions of people in the region and they will ever be grateful to this government. 

Yusuf Bukar Kaka,  Department of Mass Communication, Borno State University