•Says projects span road construction, railway development,other strategic investments designed to stimulate economic growth.
•Lists major federal infrastructure projects in the state to include the Kano–Kaduna Road, Kano–Maiduguri Road, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano–Katsina Road, Kano–Katsina-Maradi railway project and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline.
Read also: Kano seeks more federal road projects, calls for durable concrete pavements
•Describes highway as critical transportation corridor connecting communities and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial goods across Northern Nigeria.
•Minister of Works Umahi says Federal Government is undertaking approximately 4,000 kilometres of road projects in the North-West out of about 35,000 kilometres of federal roads nationwide.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State says the Federal Government is executing infrastructure projects worth over ₦9.5 trillion the under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Yusuf disclosed this when he represented President Tinubu in commissioning a major section of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano highway,on Wednesday.
He commended President Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure development in the state, noting that the projects spanned road construction, railway development and other strategic investments were designed to stimulate economic growth.
He described the highway as a critical transportation corridor connecting communities and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial goods across Northern Nigeria.
According to the Governor, the reconstruction of the road would reduce travel time, improve road safety and strengthen commercial activities across the region.
He listed other major federal infrastructure projects in the state to include the Kano–Kaduna Road, Kano–Maiduguri Road, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano–Katsina Road, Kano–Katsina-Maradi railway project and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to extend its interventions to the rehabilitation of the Eastern and Western bypasses and other major roads linking rural communities across the state.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government to accelerate infrastructure development and improve the living conditions of residents.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed that the Federal Government had completed 118 kilometres of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano highway using reinforced concrete pavement.
Umahi said the completed section was part of the 375-kilometre dual carriageway project, which he described as a major milestone in the Tinubu administration’s efforts to improve road infrastructure nationwide.
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He explained that the first section of the project, covering 252 kilometres, had been completed at a cost of approximately ₦252.118 billion, while work on the second section, measuring 164 kilometres, had reached 148 kilometres.
According to him, less than 20 kilometres remained to be completed on the second section.
The minister said the Tinubu administration, upon assuming office, directed the Ministry of Works to explore alternative approaches to completing the reinforced concrete pavement sections of the highway after the initial contractor was unable to undertake the work with the required equipment.
He added that the President had also directed the extension of the Kano section of the highway to the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Umahi commended Governor Yusuf for initiating the airport road project, noting that Federal Government intervention had helped bring the project to completion.
He further disclosed that Tinubu had directed the installation of solar-powered streetlights along the entire 375-kilometre highway to improve visibility and enhance motorists’ safety.
The minister stressed that the highway was strategically important to the North-West and the country at large because of its role in connecting communities, facilitating trade and easing the movement of people and goods.
He listed other major road projects being undertaken by the Federal Government in the North-West to include the Kano Northern Bypass, Kano internal ring roads, Kano–Kongolam highway, Zaria–Hunkuyi road, Sokoto–Zamfara–Zaria highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway.
Umahi said the Federal Government was undertaking approximately 4,000 kilometres of road projects in the North-West out of about 35,000 kilometres of federal roads nationwide.
He added that the administration had completed nearly 400 kilometres of inherited and newly initiated roads in the region within three years, alongside more than 149 emergency road projects.
According to him, the projects reflected Tinubu’s determination to complete ongoing infrastructure projects, including those inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Umahi urged Nigerians to support the President, insisting that the administration’s economic reforms were beginning to produce positive results despite the challenges associated with their implementation.
“The worst is over. The reforms have started to yield dividends of democracy,” he said.
Read also: Gov Yusuf hails Tinubu’s infrastructure investment in Northern Nigeria
He also called for national unity, urging Nigerians to assess the administration based on its achievements rather than political criticism.
The minister, who described himself as a major stakeholder in the South-East, also made a political appeal, stating that the region had decidednot to support the National Democratic Congress (NDC).