By Emmanuella Oghenetega
In response to the statement by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that the President, is developing more roads in the South than in the North, the Minister of Work, Engr Nweze David Umahi has labelled it misleading and absolutely false.
Umahi stated, “I consider this statement to be a grave misleading information made intentionally to deceive our brothers and sisters in the North and to pretend that he loves the North more than any other leader from the North.
“I consider the statement as one made out of desperation and as part of his struggle, along with a few others who believe that they can inherit the impeccable legacy of our dear late President Muhammadu Buhari, and that the only way available for them towards achieving the same is to be divisive and pretentious.
He said, “Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be a job of three decades and cannot be done with deceit. I think our younger generation has such a chance and it must be worked for through hard work, honesty, transparency, and commitment to the unity of our country, a legacy that our late President Buhari, achieved in all his life on earth. May God continue to bless his legacies and give him a peaceful rest, Amen.
“For the interest of all Nigerians, especially our dear brothers and sisters in the North, I wish to highlight just a few key ongoing projects in each of the six Geo-Political Zones.
“The four (4) Legacy Road Projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
1) Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is 750 km: As of today, a total of 110 km is ongoing within Lagos State and 65 km within Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The total ongoing is 175 km by 6 lanes or 350 km by 3 lanes in the South.
2) The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which is 1068km: As of today, we have 258 km ongoing at the Kebbi section and 120 km ongoing at the Sokoto section. The total ongoing is 378 km by 6 lanes or 756 km by 3 lanes in the North.
3) Trans Sahara road spanning through Cross River – Ebonyi – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja, which is 465km: 118 km by 3 lanes or 59 km by 6 lanes is ongoing in Ebonyi State – South.
4) Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe road, which is 439km: Project is being redesigned from flexible pavement to rigid pavement for more durability, as directed by Mr. President, and in conformity with the other legacy projects. Out of the total length of these Projects, the North has 52% and the South 48%. And within the ongoing projects, as of today, the South has 409 km by 3lanes and the North has 756km by 3 lanes.
“The facts are there. I wonder why people don’t talk about other legacy projects of Mr. President but will always dwell on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This road has only 220 km by 3 lanes in Lagos State which is ongoing now, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have 130km by 3 ongoing lanes, whereas Kebbi state, alone, has 316 km by 3 lanes that is ongoing.
“Sokoto state has 240 km with 3 lanes that is ongoing. I think Sen. Kwankwaso is not fair to Mr.President and the unity of our country
The Minister, therefore sited the on going projects, such as the
1. Sokoto – Gusau – Funtua – Zaria road,
2. Abuja – Kaduna – Kano road: 350 km dualized (700km) project
3. BUA Tax Credit road passing through Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano States: 256 km dualized (512 km).
4) 156 km of Zaria – Hunkuyi road is being constructed by Mothercat (Nig,) Ltd.
5) The Kano Northern Bypass: 49 km is being constructed by CCECC.
6) The 100.9 km dualised (201.8 km) Kano – Jigawa states’ section of the Kano – Maiduguri road is being constructed by Triacta (Nig.) Limited.
7) The Bama and Dikwa roads (49+51=100 km) by Dangote Tax Credit are ongoing in Borno State.
8) Section V of the Kano – Maiduguri Dualisation, Damaturu – Maiduguri in Borno and Yobe states
9) The 76 km Malando road in Kebbi State is being constructed by Episolyn (Nig.) Ltd.
10) The 250 km dualised (500 km) Benue to 9th Mile road costing $958 million by China Harbour is ongoing.
11) The Dualisation of Lokoja – Okene 86km dualised (172km) by CGC is ongoing.
12) Sections 1 and 2 of the Kaduna to Katsina roads by CCECC costing about ₦150 billion are ongoing.
In the south, Umahi also listed a few.
“I can say with all sense of responsibility that President Tinubu, is a fair President. He has favoured the North in road development more than the South, especially the North West, where Sen. Kwankwaso comes from.
