Isiyaku Ahmed
The Federal Government has officially flagged off the reconstruction and dualisation of the 401-kilometre Lambata-Bida-Mokwa-Makera-Kontagora road project in Niger State, valued at N1.5 trillion.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu performed the groundbreaking ceremony in Bida on Monday, with Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, representing him at the event.
Bologi Ibrahim, spokesperson to Governor Bago, disclosed in a statement issued Wednesday.
According to the statement, Governor Bago reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development, saying the President remained determined to improve the lives of Nigerians through interventions across various sectors.
The Governor assured Tinubu of Niger State’s support in the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the state and the North-Central region would deliver substantial votes for the President to enable him to continue his administration’s programs.
Governor Bago also appealed to Nigerians to maintain peace and support Tinubu’s second-term ambition, arguing that the President should be allowed to complete another term before power returns to the North.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, described the road project as the fifth legacy infrastructure project of the Tinubu administration.
Umahi said the Federal Government was undertaking new and ongoing road projects spanning about 5,500 kilometres nationwide, adding that the administration remained committed to infrastructure development across all regions.
He expressed confidence that the projects would be completed under Tinubu’s leadership if Nigerians supported his re-election.
The Minister commended Bago for what he described as his commitment to road development, noting that the governor had constructed more than 300 kilometres of roads across state and federal routes.
Umahi also praised the Dangote Group for partnering with the Federal Government on the project and engaging a reputable construction firm to execute the road using reinforced concrete pavement.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the project demonstrated that the Federal Government’s reforms were yielding results, particularly in road infrastructure.
He called on Nigerians to support the administration, expressing optimism that its infrastructure investments would contribute to economic growth and prosperity.
The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Usman, thanked Tinubu for his commitment to national infrastructure renewal and commended Bago for advocating the implementation of the project.
Usman said the road would improve commercial activities, facilitate movement and stimulate economic growth at the grassroots.
Similarly, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the President for approving the project, describing it as an important investment in the state’s economic future.
Speaking on behalf of the emirate councils, he pledged their support towards ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
The Senior Special Adviser to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Mansur Ahmed, said the company was pleased to partner with the Federal Government on the project, describing the road corridor as critical to Nigeria’s economy.
Ahmed assured that construction would be undertaken simultaneously from four locations to accelerate delivery, adding that the project would feature high-quality concrete pavement.
He said the completion of the road would transform the corridor into one of Nigeria’s economically active routes, creating opportunities for businesses, boosting commerce and generating employment.
In separate remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh; Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi; and the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement for the North-Central region, Abiodun Essiet, highlighted the project’s potential to improve the socioeconomic development of the region.
They also called for continuity in the Federal Government’s infrastructure programs.
