Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Goronyo, has reassured timely completion of Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project started by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to fastrack socio-economic activities in the country.
Goronyo made the assurance on Friday when he inspected different parts of the ongoing project sites at different communities across Binji and Silame local government areas of Sokoto state.
He expressed appreciation on the contractors’ performances, team of security personnel presence guarding the sites and community members support that ensures seamless execution of the project.
He assured that the project was designed to be executed on batches and different phases were outlines in sections for execution based on stages, stressing that government would be commissioning the projects in phases completed.
According to him, the initiative was to showcase to Nigerians the levels of projects execution and determined to complete the projects as designed in four years.
The Minister described the project as distinct and demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to uplift the lives of citizens, noting that the road projects was initially conceived during late President Shehu Shagari’s regime in 1980s.
” All the subsequent regimes could not go on with the project, but President Tinubu embarked on the bold step to harness the human and environment potentialities in the nation.
” It is misleading of the public to say the project was stopped, it is completely false, work if going on as designed, sections were demarcated from 1,2,3 to others as it covered different states.
” As work is going on here in Sokoto parts of state another work on different section is going on in Kebbi state and others, ” Goronyo said.
He emphasised that there was no damage, security threat or community members disagreement reported so far, every section work is going well and every section covered would be duly punlised for the satisfaction of citizens.
” The four legacy highway projects were part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to improve road network and train service connectivity across the six geopolitical zones, to boost socio-economic development.
” Projects included the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Corridor; 1,068km Sokoto-Badagry road, Calabar-Abuja superhighway, 482km TransSaharan road, and 439km Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road.
” The projects were designed as concrete road with lighting, installment of CCTV cameras, health, tragic and security stations and other facilities, to enhance prompt response to emergencies, ” the Minister said.
The minister added that government have adopted standard procurement modalities and engaged specialised contractors with global experience of such projects, and assured completion of the project within specifications in phases.
Goronyo also commended the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi for his support as well as the contractor handling the project for quality and speed of work.
He urged the people to support the Federal Government’s programmes, and charged them to take ownership of the road, adding that, “it is for your own good”.
The Newsmen recalls that the 1,068 kilometres Sokoto-Badagry road was inaugurated on Oct. 24, 2024 in Illela LGA, part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at encouraging infrastructure development and uplifting socio-economic activities in the country.
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