By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has assured that it will look into the possibilities of kick-starting dualisation of the Ilorin-Lokoja Highway as soon as possible.
Minister of Works, Sen. Nweze David Umahi gave the assurance while in discussion with the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and his Kogi counterpart, Ahmed Usman Ododo, on the way forward for the road when the duo paid him a visit in his office in Abuja, a statement signed by his media aide, Barr. Orji Orji, disclosed.
The Minister reiterated the commitment of the current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to addressing the accumulated road infrastructural needs of the country as that would contribute progressively to the reinvigoration of the national and sub-national economies.
Lamenting the state of the highways across the country when this administration came on board months back, the Minister said holistic attention was being given to the federal roads in all the states of the federation as could be seen in the numerous ongoing road projects in the country.
“In all honesty, the roads are very terrible. But if you look at what we had when I took over in the month of August and what we are doing now, you will see a lot of commitment by Mr President, not just on that stretch…, but all over the country.
That’s why he directed that I must visit all the states and all the projects,” he said.
He assured the Governors that the Ministry would look at the funding mechanism to kick-start the project once approved by Mr President, as it is not contemplated by the budget.
Speaking earlier for the Governors, the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said the purpose of their visit was to bring the condition of the Ilorin-Lokoja road to the attention of the federal government for possible intervention, adding that the road which also stretches to Markurdi, Gboko up to the Republic of Benin is key not only to the enhancement of the economy, but also to the development of solid mineral and agriculture in Nigeria.
He expressed delight in the interventions of Mr President on road infrastructure across the nation and hoped that with the outcome of their meeting, the federal government would look into ways and means of funding the Ilorin-Lokoja dualisation.