Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday flagged off the construction of 1,068 km section 1 phase 1A 3 Lane single carriageway Sokoto-Badagry superhighway in Illela local government of the state.
The President who was resented by the Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, president Tinubu assured of adequate security for the project.
He said the 1068km road when completed will add value to the economy of the country, region, and all other states covered by the project.
In his welcome address, the state deputy governor and commissioner of works, Engr Idris Mohammed Gobir, said history is made in Sokoto state hence the project is becoming a reality.
“This project could not have come at a better time than now, hence road construction is one of the greatest ways of ensuring speedy development”.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Aliyu Bagudu, in his welcome address, said the Sokoto-badagry super highway is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which is to build infrastructures capable of putting the nation on the rung of global development.
“The President always said we have a country to believe in and all should work to put the nation in the right spot.
He desires that we should create and support Nigeria to be a country where all will be proud of.”
“Despite the economic challenges, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is undertaking projects that would develop the nation,” Atiku noted.
In his remarks, Senator Adamu Aliero, Chairman Senate on Transport, said the road which will pass through 7 states of Sokoto-Kebbi, Niger, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos to Badagry would be a testament to the president’s resolve to make Nigeria great.
Aliero further stated that the National Assembly will continue to support the president to make Nigeria great further appealed for the construction of a rail line from Sokoto to Lagos, adding,
“The 1068 km road is the first of its kind in northern Nigeria.”
The Senate Committee chairman on Works, Barinada Mgigi warned contractors that the era of flagging off projects and vanishing into thin air is gone as they at the Senate will ensure that there is value for money.
The Minister of State for Works, Muhammed Bello Goronyo said the project will reduce the number of hours from Sokoto to Lagos, reduce issues of insecurity, and provide employment with multiple economic gains for the states where the road will pass through,
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 reminded President Bola Ahmed Tinunu that despite all road projects being very important the welfare of Nigerians should equally be considered very seriously.
“It is important for leaders to also see to the welfare of their people.”
On the Sokoto-Badagry road project, the Sultan also stressed that he would personally monitor the project, adding that the Sokoto Zaria road is equally important hence bandits are taking advantage of the bad road to kidnap innocent road users.
“Empower the state governors to ensure that the roads that pass through their states are completed in good time and construction of railway lines through the length and breadth of Nigeria will preserve the lifespan of the roads” Sultan advised.
Giving the background of the project, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said they are in Sokoto to make manifest one of the core legacy projects of President Bola Ahmed
While noting the president is committed to completing all inherited projects David Umahi further divulged that the entire legacy super highways with 52 percent in the entire north and 48 in the south will gulp over 13 trillion naira.
Continuing, the works minister said the road project was a dream by the Shehu Shagari administration 48 years ago, and will be completed within 6 years with the 1st stage completed by 2027.
“President Tinubu is using concrete to ensure that any road he constructs lasts 100 years.
The National Security Adviser has also put security architecture in place to ensure all constructions are executed hitch-free.
He further assured that the Tinubu-led administration is also doing everything leadership possible to complete the Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna roads soon.
