Bauchi 115kms Five Rural Roads To Gulf $12.763 Million

By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi

Contracts worth $12.763 million for the construction of 115 kilometers comprising five rural roads that will cut across three senatorial districts of Bauchi are to be signed this August by the state government, commissioner for special duties and rural development, Hon. Farouk Mustapha has revealed.

Hon. Farouk Mustapha however explained, “So in that $12. 763 million involve the cost of the roads, the consultancy, some goods and services all to be financed within the year 2024 as approved by the World Bank and EFD in collaboration with the Bauchi state Government

The commissioner at a press briefing shortly after the State Executive Council meeting over the weekend, gave the five roads as Mainamaji – Kuka – Badara – Fali of 25km; Durum – Nahuta 15km; Akuyam – Gwaram – Hardawa 19km; Chara Chara – Raba Magwashi – Zirami 30km; and Garin Gami – Gadai – Madufa 25km totalling 115kms of rural roads.

He said, “These roads we have already advertised them in the last 6 – 7 weeks and opened their tenders two weeks ago, on the 25th of last month, and we are now in the process of evaluating the successful companies which I believe in the next couple of weeks, we will finish everything”.

According to him, the project execution is in collaboration with the World Bank and Federal Project Monitoring Unit, alongside the State Implementation Unit, “because it is a joint kind of thing which how transparent is going to be”.

The Special Duties Commissioner added, “We are hopeful it is going to be out soon, and in the next couple of weeks, hopefully before the end of June, we will be able to sign the contracts of the five roads that are rural totalling 115 kms which are to be co-financed by the Bauchi State Government, World Bank and EFD – is a French Financing Agency”.

Mustapha recalled that the Bauchi State Executive Council led by Governor Bala Mohammed during the week ratified the proposal initiated by the Ministry for Special Duties and Rural Development on a World Bank Finance Project worth $12. 763 for 2024 work plan.

He explained that the ministry had sought the Executive Council to ratify the Governor Bala Mohammed’s anticipatory approval which the council at it’s meeting ratified it which entails programmes and projects to be undertaken by the ministry.

Mustapha also gave the period reached for the execution of the road projects which is two years with all terrains including the rainy season taken into cognisance, stressing that the projects would transform not only the urban areas, but the rural areas as well.

Hon. Farouk Mustapha also unveiled a state government plan for the construction of what he termed ‘ three agropolistic markets’ which currently staff of the State Projects Implementation Unit are in Abuja with the World Bank experts to appraise and approve the proposed markets.

He explained that the three proposed markets are divided on the basis of the three senatorial districts of the state which after evaluation, drawings and approval are expected to be advertised for bidding by contractors before August this year.

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