FG promises steady funding of Lagos-Ibadan highway, others

THE Federal Government has said it will ensure steady funding of three major projects namely; Lagos-Ibadan highway, Second Niger Bridge and Kano-Abuja road until they are fully completed.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, gave the assurance at the flag-off of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project in Kano State.

He said the uninterrupted funding of the projects would be sourced from the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fashola lamented that the highlighted projects were for decades neglected by past administrations for lack of funds, despite the huge amount amassed from sale of crude oil.

“The existing 25 roads are only a part of 200 roads that needs to be funded. Strategic roads which carry some of the heaviest traffic and which connect the north and south of the country, the second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano road project have either being stalled or simply deteriorated for about a decade for lack of funding at a time when the country made a lots of money from the sale of crude oil.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has again brought change. After the SUKUK, he has now approved an infrastructure development fund.

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“These three projects, Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway are the first beneficiary of the infrastructure developed fund.”

He added that, “What this means now is that work will no longer stop on these three projects on the account of lack of funding once they are put in the budget.”

The 375.4km road project was awarded to Julius Berger Plc at N155,470,626,078.07 with 36 months completion period.

He further noted that the contractors working on Lagos-Ibadan road and Second Niger Bridge had been mobilised while Julius Berger construction firm is expected to commence work on the third project shortly after the flag-off.

Earlier, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, described the project as belated but applauded the Federal Government for the intervention.

He said it would contribute significantly to developing rural communities as well as serve as job creation opportunity.

Sanusi commended the Federal Government for awarding the project to Julius Berger, emphasising on the good reputation and capacity of the construction firm.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, decried high rate of casualties recorded on the road due to its neglect.

He said road mishaps were recorded almost on daily basis.

Ganduje, represented by his deputy, Professor Afeez Abubakar, said the reconstruction would salvage hardship regularly witnessed on the roads by commuters.