By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
A resident and of Uke and commuter along the Abuja-Keffi Highway in the Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, Alphonsus Igboghi, has revealed that he had the plan of putting out his property in which he resides for sale so that he could relocate to another location due to the traffic ordeal he faces driving to-and-fro his office in Abuja “every blessed day”.
Igboghi was speaking to SUMMIT POST during the media tour to inspect ongoing road projects commission the some special intervention projects inherited and completed by the the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Administration through the Ministry of Works.
Also on the team was the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Grace Ike, who performed the oversight on behalf of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, while Ahmed Mohammed, Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, was the team lead.
He said since he began to see the concerted effort of the government to reconstruct and expand the road which has already began to yield result in times of easing the traffic jam that has been the character of that route, he had changed his mind.
“Yes, what is happening now has changed my initial plan to relocate. It is good. With this project, we have begun to experience improved traffic, even as the work is not yet complete.
“At least, unlike before that I used to spend up to 3-4 hours before reaching my office because of the gridlock experienced every day along this corridor, it now takes me highest 1 and a half hours to get there, except when there is a problem at a point. So we thank the Tinubu government for this great project that will impact many lives,” Igboghi said.
In the vein, another commuter along the Abuja–Keffi corridor, a civil servant, who spoke in high ecstasy to some newsmen on the tour team, Matthew Daniel, was full of gratitude to the government, thanking President and all stakeholders that making the project a reality.
He said, ” I am highly impressed by the pace and quality of work being done on this road; the thickness alone unprecedented, and given the strategic economic impact it portends residents along this corridor. said he was impressed by the pace of work and the potential impact on residents and businesses. God bless Mr President and all that are behind the achievement of this feat.”
According to the briefs by the Federal Controller of Works for the FCT, Engr Y. Usman, and the contractor, the Construction and Expansion of Mararaba-Kedfi Dual Carrigeway, 43 kilometres (KMs) on both sides, has reached 90 per cent completion, with China Harbour handling the Keffi bound carriageway, and JRB, the Abuja bound.
Awarded under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, C/No.8023 in the sum of N73.8, work commenced 20 December, 2023, with a duration period of 30 months and a completion date of 20 May, 2026.
In her remarks, the NUJ Chairman, Ike,
commended the minister for engaging journalists in an on-the-spot assessment of ongoing road projects, describing the move as a strong signal of transparency and accountability.
According to her, the expansion of the road has long dominated national discourse due to the heavy traffic congestion and hardship faced by commuters.
On the other hand, the 81 kilometre (km) Abuja-Kaduna corridor (Section 1) of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road being reconstructed with concrete pavement, when visited, had achieved over 70 per cent completion, and it is to be completed by April end.
SUMMIT POST reports that the project was initially awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, but upon termination over some disagreement and Undue Delay was re-warded to Infiouest Nigeria Limited.
The project’s Engineers Representative, Chukuma Kalu while addressing newsmen explained that the outstanding section was awarded in two lots under Section One.
He said the project includes a 40.5-kilometre dual CRCP stretch, totalling 81 kilometres, a 17.3-kilometre asphalt section linking the Kano-Zaria road, and a 6.63-kilometre dual asphalt wearing course overlay in Kano State.
“To date, we have completed the 6.63 dual asphalt road in Kano, the road to Kano Airport, which has been marked with street lights. The 17.3 kilometres asphalt road leading to Kano-Zaria road is about 80 per cent complete,” Kalu said.
He added that out of the 81 kilometres of CRCP, 60 kilometres have been completed, leaving 21 kilometres to be delivered before the end of April, adding
“We work during day and night to make sure we meet our targets of completing 81 kilometres by the end of April”.
At Bwari, a satellite council area in the FCT, Limited Rehab of Childcare Trust Road and Construction of Five adjoining Roads, which is part of the 260 special intervention road projects across the country inherited from the last administration and completed by the current administration, was commissioned by the NUJ FCT council boss on behalf of the minister.
So also the Construction of Roads and Drainages at Flood Prone Areas project done in Lugbe. While cutting the ribbon, the NUJ FCT Council chairman urged President Tinubu and the minister, Umahi, to keep up the good work and continue to carry the media along for the people to be adequately abreast of their developmental strides.
“The media owes it a duty to report the good works you are doing, and to also report what is not properly done for necessary actions, so they are a critical partner in this journey,” she said.