The federal government has flagged off the reconstruction of 700 kilometer- Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road taken over from Julius Berger and handled by Infoquest Nigeria Limited, with a 14-month completion target.
Speaking Sunday during the flag-off at Jere, Kagarko local government area of Kaduna state, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the road as very critical to the economic and social development of the northern region.
Represented by Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani, the president said: “I know very deeply, fully understand, appreciate and completely key into the vision of His Excellency President Bola Tinubu to totally overhaul every passage of our being as a nation. I respect our goals. I support giving status as not just Africa’s most populous country, but also the continent’s largest economy. For one, I am well aware of the President’s strong resolve to complete and expand key road infrastructure projects across Nigeria.
“It is true that some of these projects began under previous administrations, but each project must go to the administration of President Tinubu. We are continuously and meticulously adjusting contracts, redistributing funding allocations and setting new timelines to accelerate delivery of these projects.
“I am also aware that in the almost two years of the President Tinubu’s administration, several new projects, most of them very important, have been awarded and many of these have in fact been completed and commissioned to improve connectivity, facilitate trade and support regional development.
“I dare say also that I am aware that being a statesman of note, a democrat and a nationalist to the core, President Tinubu has most carefully ensured that no part of Nigeria has been left out in the way of infrastructure upgrades and that is sweeping through the country’s administration.”
He further said: “Kaduna State in particular and northern Nigeria at large have seen the inception of the Tinubu administration being beneficiaries of major infrastructure rehabilitation, upgrades and expansion. We cannot thank the President enough for justifying the confidence that borders in northern Nigeria continue to force in him. The reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kado dual carriage roads continues to be a part of the legacy project that Mr President is bequeathing to us.
“We are at the verge of witnessing what I believe to be one of the finest moments so far of the progressive administration of President Bola Tinubu, the Kaduna-Abuja-Zaria-Kano road is without doubt one of the most important events in the history of our country. It is critical to the economic and social development of our region.
“This stretch of road is not only the busiest in the north, but also the second busiest in our great nation, second only to the Lagos-Ibadan. It connects the Federal Capital Territory to about 12 states in the north-central, north-west, and north-east zones. It serves as a vital link for travelers moving between the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.
“One of the earliest requests I made to the President was the construction of this very important road. Mr. President did not only give me a listening ear, but he gave the Honourable Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, matching orders to take a critical look at the project and work out an arrangement that would lead to the speedy completion of this very important project.
“Of course, I have indeed been working closely with him on the effective implementation of Mr. President’s directive. I am implicitly confident that this project will be completed in the shortest possible time. I will be going to his office weekly to ensure that this project can be completed in nine months by the grace of God.”
…Umahi speaks
On his part, Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi said the road project would be completed within 14 months.
He said: “This road is the most important road in the entire Northern states and for many other regions. Under Governor Uba Sani, history is being made. This 700 kilometers of road will be completed in concrete reinforced pavement. This project was 350 kilometers from Abuja, of course passing through Niger State to the great state of Kaduna to Zaria and ended in Kano. We have sections one, two, three.
“Section one is in Abuja-Niger and section three is in Kano. Substantially, the Kano section between Zaria and Kano has been completed by Julius Berger and so the entire route to 350 was the 240 kilometer completed by Julius Berger. The remaining kilometer, 240 by two is 480.
“The president is not only completing this, he has also added about 11 kilometers at the Kano section of the road to take the road to the Aminu Kano International Airport. That work is going on now together with the remaining section in Kano State. At the beginning of section one, which is between Kogi State and Abuja, the president has also added another 10km of road to it. And not only this, from the Abuja down to Kano, the entire road, the president also directed that there should be solar light throughout and CCTV.
“Today, the president has awarded the completion of sections one and three, a total of 118 km, for a total sum of 252 billion naira. Thirty percent has been paid to Infoquest. And let me assure the people within this corridor that Infoquest has been tested and is proven to be a competent and reputable organization to do this work.
“They have started. I insisted that before I flag off this, before the president flags it off, that the concrete road, a taste of it must commence and you can see that section one that has commenced and they have seen the quality. I have no regrets recommending Infoquest to do this job. Today we are also flagging off the section 2, 82 kilometer by 2, 164 kilometer, a total cost of N525 billion.”
“I commend Governor Uba Sani for working with the very hard-working NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure that we sleep with our two eyes closed. We two of you, we will take back our security and Kaduna state would be great again.
“We have a president that is committed to ensuring that all our roads are taken back and reconstructed. in the past we’ve been building roads, but today President Bola Tinubu is constructing roads that will last between 50 and 100 years, low maintenance roads,” the minister added.
…Words on 2027, opposition
To the opposition, Umahi said: “I want to assure you, my dear governor that I’m also a prophet. It was only David in the Bible that was a prophet and a priest and God has told me that you will do eight years and Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do eight years. Those in support say aye! The ayes have it because the voice of God is the voice of men.
“But let me advise the so-called coalitions or opposition, when you are in opposition, you are doing constructive opposition, not destructive ones. You have to provide alternatives to what you are criticizing. Talk is cheap and the job is very easy when you are not the one doing it. Opposition is to provide alternatives. I’ve never seen any opposition providing alternatives over anything, but I want to thank God for the president.
“The Finnish financial institution just few days ago said the reforms of Mr. President are working. They say that the Nigeria financial is upgraded. The World Bank also said so. So, who is the opposition that darkens council without knowledge? Nigeria is working. The worst is over and God is with us. He will take us to the Promised Land.
“Mr. Governor from the 1st of May, we’ll be talking to you to give us a date. We are doing Zonal engagements in the 6 Political Zones to render the accounts of what Mr. President has done in the road and bridge sector for the entire nation.
“Of course, that of the North West will be in Kaduna State. Uba Sani is a man that is trusted, he’s a man that is tested, he’s a performer, he’s an infrastructure guru and he’s a good man.
“We are writing the history of Ministry of Works and we are bringing a lot of innovations that will put our nation infrastructure in the road sector to a point of no return. It will be possible in the sense of the policies we are bringing to Ministry of Works. I assure you to have confidence in the federal government. I assure you in the next 30 days, I will come back to reappraise the pace of work. This road will be completed in 14 months.”
…It’s too early to start campaign – Tinubu
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has told his supporters to stop their 2027 campaigns pending the directive of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to that effect.
The president was reacting to billboards and other campaign materials springing up in Abuja and other parts of the country.
Conveying the president’s plea in a statement Sunday in Abuja, the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said: “The Presidency has observed, with dismay, the increasing number of billboards in some cities promoting the 2027 campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“Until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sets the timetable for the 2027 elections, the President has not endorsed or authorised anyone or any group to mount a 2027 campaign for him through any media channel—be it Out-of-Home, print, digital, radio, or television.
“Therefore, we urgently call on individuals and groups funding this 2027 political campaign through the ongoing deployment of materials on billboards nationwide to cease immediately.”
